Gleipnirs Smeder

NOT content with operating what, for me, is the best record label in England, Satanas Rex is Justin Mitchell’s new Black Metal sideline. Every man needs a bit on the side, or so they say, and this is his scarlet woman from the watery environs of Bergen on the south-west coast of Norway. The more observant among you will recognise Bergen as the home of the infamous Varg Vikernes. According to their MySpace page, Jotunspor make ‘Black Metal in honour of Nordic heritage’ and are purely a studio outfit with no intention whatsoever of performing live. The group was formed in 2005 by King (Gorgoroth, Sahg) and Kvitrafn (formerly of Gorgoroth and Sahg and now part of Siegfader), and this CD comes in black and brown with a wolf prowling its way across the cover. The eight tracks on this album were recorded over a two-month period and begin with ‘Gleipnirs Smeder’, a riff-laden slice of neo-doom which starts off in a fairly minimalistic vein before evolving into a menacing cocktail of rumbling bass and tortured vocals. Unlike a lot of contemporary Black Metal, however, the guitars are very structured and only the incalculable drumbeats tell you that the whole thing is racing along at a thousand kilometers an hour. Towards the end the vocals become ‘cleaner’ and there is a real anthemic touch to it all. For several atmospheric minutes a few aquatic-like samples can be heard as ’Svartalvheims Djup’ arrives on the scene with ominous whispers, tinkering bells and a gradual rumbling. Amid deep groans and sinister cackles this sophisticated ambient interlude eventually pans out into something fairly reminiscent of early Endura or perhaps even Lustmord. But it’s certainly a very impressive and well-crafted track and clearly demonstrates that, given half a chance, these boys can turn their hands to anything. ‘Solartjuven’ is more of a return to traditional Black Metal, but even here Jotunspor display an unmistakable flair and originality that easily surpasses many of their peers. Again, there is a slight doom element to their music but the overall tempo is heightened by carefully placed layers of sound that range from rythmic growls and screams of anguish to lycanthropic howls and crashing thunder. The guitars are brilliant, delivered with an unremitting energy that is borne of the Viking bloodline. Amazing stuff. But before you even have a chance to catch your breath, ‘Freke Han Renn…’ shoves a cloven hoof right down onto the musical accelerator and sends us plunging though the churning fjords of this ongoing North European odyssey. The agonising vocals are drawn out and sustained, each line concluding like a man falling into a spiraling abyss of desperation. The diverse fretwork on this song shows talent and versatility. And then comes ‘Sol Mun Svartne’. Now, either there’s a sixteen-armed octopus on drums or Jotunspor have employed the relentless services of a hammering blacksmith chock-full of amphetamines. Everything becomes an overwhelming blur of dizzying action and this track is possibly the most powerful on the album. The vocals are a little similar to Cradle of Filth in places, too, but whilst a lot of BM disciples like to slander this great English institution I’m actually being complimentary. The awesome pace and dynamism continue well on into ‘Ginnungagalder’, pausing here and there to allow Kvitrafn to snarl his way through the whole range of dark Norse vocals. The guitars adopt a tone of suspense and trepidation, although they retain a constant drive and determination that gives the song a dependable, solid-as-a-rock quality. As ‘Ginnungagalder’ fades away, ‘Ildkrig’ ascends to the throne with choratic sound effects and the rolling onslaught of a militaristic snare. The lyrics are deliberately repetitive and have a sense of impatience and urgency, finally brought to a close by the sound of a metallic dragging that resembles a smoking cannon being dragged across freshly scorched earth. I’m really impressed with this debut Jotunspor album and, when you consider that this is the label’s very first release, Satanas Rex has created an almost insurmountable benchmark for others to follow and this should have other BM bands clamouring to join its stable. Meanwhile, for more information, contact http://www.satanasrex.co.uk/