Nattverd‘s return is announced with their fourth album.
Released in 2023 by Soulseller Records, I helvetes forakt is the pride of Ormr (vocals), Atyr (guitar/bass), Sveinr (bass, Nordjevel, Nebular Mystic, ex-Ragnarok), Aven (guitar, Noxium Ferus) and Renton (drums, Trollfest, ex-Sarkom, ex-Urgehal).
Det Stormer I Norge, the first track, lets a cold wind blow before the band enters, paying tribute to their country’s Black Metal roots. We have this very raw approach in riffs and screams as well, but the musicians also know how to offer soothing melodies like during the break or the introduction of Vandring I Elver Av Blod, the following composition, which presents a more soothing and haunting side of Black Metal. Piercing leads give the solid and hazy base a catchy relief, then the band returns to the aggressive sounds on En Poesende Eim I Vinden, a track which still keeps heady melodies to create an oppressive contrast with its dark inspirations. The sound eventually slows down and calms down for a majestic final, then Oeyne I Natten buries us again under its Old School and dissonant riffs, coupled with some fascinating ghostly harmonics and sharp leads. The rhythm suddenly revives with Forbannet Vaere, featuring more vivid and chaotic sounds underneath energetic Thrash-like drums, and then some more impressive vocal parts show up before coldness resurfaces on Helvete Kjenner Alt, Selv Naar Taaken Har Lagt Seg, an oppressive track highlighting soaring airy tones, and often allowing them quite jerky patterns to accompany the straightforward and massive blast. In Gammel Kriger Trosser Vind Og still appears in a relatively aggressive damper made of energetic and chopped riffs without denying the place of heady melodies as well as suffocating vocal parts, then Gudsforlatt accelerates the tempo again and strengthens the oppression with a rather short track with very raw sound. It will be followed by the equally short Elvedjuvet, which presents groove with excited Punk inspirations, letting some abrasive leads to be integrated in the mix, then I Moerke Skip Innover slows down again to take us towards the end of the album with a haunting but relatively catchy sound, which perfectly symbolizes the duality of the band’s identity.
With I helvetes forakt, Nattverd introduces us to pure Norwegian Black Metal, which knows how to give the floor to aggressiveness and rage while keeping a more ambient and melodic dimension to offer coldness its hour of glory.
85/100