A new release from Wormwood.
Two years have passed since the Swedish band’s last release. Nine (vocals, Withershin), Tobias Rydsheim (guitar/keyboards/vocals), Jerry Engström (guitar, Withershin, ex-Riket), and Oscar Tornborg (bass, Withershin). They have since recruited Simon Samuelsson (drums, Dripping Horror, Bleeding Utopia, ex-Ofermod) and are still signed to Black Lodge Records, through whom they present their new EP, simply titled Å.
Yra | Extas immediately hits us hard, offering a very aggressive opening before shifting to heavier, slower tones, though still within the melodic range the band has come to be known for, while still letting the blast beat kick things back into gear from time to time. Conversely, there are much softer, more refined passages, as well as a final bordering on atmospheric Black Metal, featuring an intoxicating and tortured solo, before moving on to Purposeless Geometry, where we’re greeted by children’s choirs. The track features a fairly catchy rhythm, returning to the choir during the choruses, but letting the leads captivate our minds before the unsettling yet very gentle break that allows us to catch our breath before the chaos that awaits us, followed by one last intense passage, and then the EP already comes to an end.
Although it contains only two tracks, Å is relatively substantial, offering a quarter of an hour of captivating and striking melodies. Wormwood has found an interesting way to keep us waiting while piquing our curiosity!
95/100