Vansind’s saga continues.
Driven by violence and resentment, J. Asgaard (vocals, Mindmare), Line Burglin (vocals, Parasomnia), Rikke Klint Johansen (keyboards/folk instruments), Danni Jelsgaard (drums, Thor Sejersen Riis, ex-Detest, ex-Panzerchrist, ex-Svartsot, ex-Shadowspawn…), Kirk Backarach (guitar, Iron Fire, Vanir), James Atkin (bass, Heidra, ex-Svartsot), and Nikolaj Madsen (guitar, ex-Justify Rebellion) unveil their second album, Hævnen, with Mighty Music.
Det Største Offer welcomes us with traditional Folk sounds that quickly immerse us in the band’s atmosphere, starting with a melancholic touch that gradually becomes more martial, then suddenly very catchy when the distortion kicks in, followed by J. Asgaard’s roars. The contrast between the solid riffs and the intoxicating touch of Line’s vocals is perfectly balanced, as is the alternation of vocal parts in general and the soaring break that punctuates this long track, before returning to more energetic tones on Alvild, the next, slightly shorter track, which is also rawer. It’s worth noting the deliberate contrast between Folk instruments and clean vocals, but the track is far more effective with its aggressive elements, turning the intricate solo into a true moment of suspense before the final, followed by the dark Blodhævn and its rather somber intro, which gives way to an aggressive rhythm section. The progression is here again masterfully controlled, and even if the sudden accelerations may come as a surprise, it will be almost impossible not to bang your head to these jerky beats while savoring the ethereal leads before moving on to Det Sidste Na?deskys, which picks up the pace again, still tempered by the clean vocals, creating a balanced yet highly anticipated duo that at times takes on a slightly more upbeat tone thanks to the instrumental. The break unleashes a veritable hurricane of palpable intensity, drawing on more extreme roots before returning to normal, before moving on to I Yggdrasils Skygge, which offers an aggressively driven foundation upon which the vocals and harmonics develop naturally, presenting some of the album’s most unifying moments. The pace slightly slows down with Truslen Fra Dybet, which introduces heavier tones, but which eventually lighten up during the break, infusing the rest of the track with fairly mellow heavy influences despite the screams, then Skæbnens Tunge Vej returns to pure folk roots for the final track, featuring a long introduction before letting the distortion kick in, allowing the aggressive bursts to serve as the album’s closing statement.
Vansind has taken the time to perfect its formula, making Hævnen an album that is both balanced and rooted in a natural duality between gentleness and aggression. The ever-present folk roots allow them to dare to delve deeper into all their influences, much to our delight!
85/100
