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Band: Ov Shadows
Album: The Darkness Between Stars
Release Date: 23 February 2018
Label: Black Market Metal Label
Tracklist:
01. The Darkness Between Stars
02. Bellowing Shadows
03. The Hanged Man
04. Disguised As Altruism
05. Ritual Of The Natural Flame
06. Hordes Abiding The Narrator
07. A Sky In Vain
One thing I've noticed in this sea of album releases is that in general black metal subgenres are far more interesting than those who follow the traditional line. Unfortunately what I have heard is most of the times just a fading repetition. Often some albums have one or two songs that are really worthwhile and the rest goes on the same course. This time I choose Ov Shadows, the music of these underworld entities really impressed me. The raw and obscure line is meticulously preserved while more current elements are inserted without compromising the quality and the old school line. This is what I expect from a pure and raw black metal album with a meticulous bleak atmosphere.
Ov Shadows was formed in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2016 and consists of Ronny Attergran (Stykkmord, former Slaughtercult, ex-Waning, former Cult Of The Headless Witch) on bass and vocals, Jonas Wickstrand (ex-Clonaeon, formerly Waning, ex-Grindnecks, ex-Slaughtercult) on drums, guitarists Frissan (ex-Carcharoth, ex-Clonaeon, former Slaughtercult, ex-Waning, former Stykkmord) and Anders Ahlbäck (Obitus, ex-Waning, ex-Clonaeon). In the same year of formation the band released a three-track EP called Monologues. A first attempt of bleak, shadow-cloaked, blood-freezing music.
Now Ov Shadows returns with their first full-length, The Darkness Between Stars. And let it be said, this is an amazing debut album! An atmosphere of choking fog, an eruption of wild, feral savagery in an inhuman speed. It's terrifying intense since the beginning with "The Darkness Between Stars". Ronny Attergran with his grim and terrifying vocals unveils the shadows of our existence as a true master of darkness. The six other tracks do not let up on arrangement and composition, if Ov Shadows would like to push us into the dark depths of our mind, practically forcing us to accept our darker and scary side, they did. Jonas Wickstrand really is not human, the drums are endowed with astonishing speed and it fits perfectly on all of the tracks.
From the second track, "Bellow Shadows", the music settle down in a mid-paced turn, similar to their EP Monologues. In addition to presenting crushing metal tracks, they bring a certain sense of wonder, beauty and captivating melodrama, endorsed by the guitar riffs. "The Hanged Man", "Disguised As Altruism", "Ritual Of The Natural Flame" and "Hordes Abiding The Narrator" all bring a brutal and cold fury while also providing such a melancholic instants that touch my soul deeply.
This album is hugely and deeply thrilling, steeped in a dense gloom with majestic moments delivered by the passionate guitars. Let me know if you find one single track that runs out of the path of darkness. It's sure to please old school fans and the more modern ones so to speak. I utterly recommend The Darkness Between Stars. And Ov Shadows is to be congratulated for delivering on his debut album a work of quality and impeccable dedication.
Review written by: Felin Frost
Rating: 8,5/10
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