(BOG REVIEW) "MANNVEIRA" – "VESÖLD" (ICELANDIC BLACK METAL/ATMOSPHERIC BLACK METAL) (RELEASED OCTOBER 16TH, DARK DESCENT RECORDS)
1. Lygar himinsins is a mix of raw and melodic tones to set a mood and tension for what is to come with Vesöld. There are already impressive drumming patterns to hear, and Bog wishes there was more time available to deep-dive the album further because this is high-caliber music.
Bog could hear the structure, and the low/mid/high frequencies are very nicely aligned with synced drops. The intro and outro are also solid.
2. Þrot, the pacing delivers a flawless transition. The integration of a melodic overtone layered across an aggressive foundation provides a highly functional contrast. This can be a difficult balance to execute without sacrificing intensity, but Mannveira retains the necessary gritty, raw bite. The drum drops, tracking strikes, and low-end kicks are exceptionally tight, culminating in a fierce, uncompromised vocal outro.
3. Af
bergi brotin injects a punk/crust-punk vibe into the flow. It's there, and Bog could hear it, running with the angry riff structures partnered with volatile, powerful blast-beat drumming patterns.
The vocals are raw and primal, melding with the music and the furious flow. The breathing control doesn't falter, so the intensity is maintained. That said, the midpoint drops into a lighter, atmospheric tone, but it does not reduce the overall sonic weight. It serves to add a layer of mood and tone, helping the track to contain a distinct feel.
The outro features an audio sample sounding both vintage and haunting.
4. Stormur has sick rhythmic synchronization. The drumming patterns and performance are highly prominent, transitioning seamlessly to anchor the guitar riffs. The overall composition balances tension, atmosphere, and melody effectively without diluting the heavy core component.
Bog couldn't help but think "Stormur" was like a temper-tantrum mountain about to erupt into an avalanche. The outro is like the calm slowly returning to the scene. It is an effective close to what is a mega track.
5. Aumingi ignites with high-velocity, out-of-the-gates momentum. A complete hit-the-track-running with 100 on the speed, whipping up massive sheets of sludge! The signature melodic notes remain consistent, but the tempo is aggressively accelerated.
The structural breakdown is calculated: the drums drop, the counts hit, and the riffs and vocals drop back into the mix simultaneously, enhanced by a haunting background vocal effect, which was a complete, fully fleshed-out workflow, and was good to hear.
6. Bölvunin maintains this technical fury, layering a mellow frequency across the top before resolving into an unsettling outro consisting of a solitary piano and eerie male vocals.
7. Rottur. OOOOOOOOOO! OHHHHHHHHHHHH! But "Rottur"? Bog did not see or expect this coming. Bog feels completely tickled in the swamp!
F*-c-k- Stenchers!!! Get on the bikes, because let's ride dirt!!!! This is sick AF mud-spray. Bathe in it! Bathe in the bog!
This tempo slaps cheeks across the entire ecosystem and shakes it!
Halfway through that Icelandic punk breakdown with a little Oi!-ish vibe on the vox drop, Bog was literally jumping the bike over a massive mound, bouncing through the mud, f*c-k-i-n-g- bounce, bounce, and riding through the dirt!
"Rottur" is a blackened punk-fueled weapon. The rhythmic structures and punk breakdowns halfway through do so much with the energy. This is not a track to remain rooted and nod the head; run, jump around, bounce, and charge through the dirt.
A 100% banger, completely assaults the senses. Bog wanted to be in the swamps with Stenchers on either side and shout "onward" as we charge into each other while Mannveira plays "Rottur."
Turn this up 1000% and run through the wind; it slaps so much.
Bog's Thoughts:
A finely crafted album of substance that also features some other music palettes in sections to both amp up the tone, then when we get to "Rottur," shit slays. It's almost as if Mannveira were like, "You f*-c-k-e-r-s ain't escaping so easily. You think we are done?"
Aggression, tone, atmosphere, and energy are fully present in every area across the instrumentation, musicianship, and the vocals.
Audio levels are super impressive, then further elevated with the mixing and mastering.
Vesöld simply slayeths to f*c-k-e-t-h-!
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