Evighet – Winter Twilight
Good quality American Black Metal bands are becoming less of a novelty these days. As the USA seems to be awakening from its Death Metal malaise, they are appearing with all the ruthless efficiency of a Stalinist production directive. With an underground elite now propping things up and setting the markers for others, these groups and the scene in the States can now be taken seriously.
Evighet are a two-piece from New York who pump out a blend of Black Metal that sounds so Scandinavian it’s as if they were born in the very centre of the Arctic Circle. Don’t jump to conclusions because their music is all their own, accomplished and as good as anything coming out of Europe right now.
Using a haunting Northern atmosphere, there are moments obviously influenced by Enslaved’s early work, but these feature alongside some nice cold harshness. Listeners will not only experience the invocation of the dark spirits of the past in this, but also a refreshing expansion of what went before.
‘The Black Death’ tears open the ether with a nasty thrashing riff that quickly converts into icy, stabbing blackness. Using a ‘nostalgic demo’ type of guitar tone with medium distortion, echoey vocals that sound like the singer is a mile away on top of a hill bellowing his fucking head off, and clean precise drumming, the quality and richness of sound pulls you in.
‘The Greater Glory of Satan’ is just what you didn’t expect after such an opener. A mid-paced melancholic three chord cycle that changes key frequently, overlayed by a Viking oarsman, pissed-up on mead, muttering incoherently to himself as he stumbles home.
‘Into The Boreal Forest’ is a two minute blast that could have been a full-on song but fades out after. I didn’t quite get the reason for this but what there is of it is good. However, ‘Snæland’ gets things ripping along once more. Using a sharp, fast riff and minimal chords, this is a short and evil ending to the 17 minute long demo.
It’s difficult to find any faults with this EP other than the fact it needs to be a full-length album – hopefully that will materialise in the not too distant future. Although currently unsigned, I’m certain labels will be battling to add Evighet to their roster after hearing this. In my opinion, this is right up there in the throne room of USBM. Evighet are surely a band with a dark future ahead of them. The band are offering this for free download so I suggest you check this out.
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nice…already downloaded and listened twice..one of the bands to update on their full length album..
One of the other best USBM band around at the moment…. Good to see the USBM scene starting to mature.