ALBUM REVIEW: Revelations of the Red Sword – Svartidauði

Iceland’s SVARTIDAUÐI are among a crop of bands that have spearheaded the country into the spotlight as a hotbed for quality black metal. Serving as a cornerstone for the movement since 2002, it was with 2012’s Flesh Cathedral where heads were turned and announced the band to the world. Since then, six years have passed, and as the scene has exploded with notoriety, they return with their second full-length effort, Revelations of the Red Sword. Looking to build upon the foundations set by its predecessor, does this new offering reaffirm SVARTIDAUÐI‘s status as leaders of the pack?

Intending to build a dark, sinister and claustrophobic atmosphere right from the get-go, Revelations of the Red Sword roars into life through Sol Ascending and instantly sets the tone for the record. Frost-bitten riffs from Þórir dominate proceedings whilst Magnús instantly impresses with his drumming and Sturla Viðar‘s howling vocals swirl violently, resembling a maelstrom. It’s cacophonous and unsettling, the perfect start to the record.

From there, SVARTIDAUÐI continue to fire on all cylinders, demonstrating their skill and ability to craft top-tier black metal. Burning Worlds of Excrement‘s razor-sharp riffing is packed to the brim with sinister undertones as continuous barrages of aural hellfire from Magnús‘ breakneck drumming crash above before subsiding into an outro that is truly excellent. There are some tricks up SVARTIDAUÐI‘s sleeves on this record and the subtle tempo changes on behemoth The Howling Cynocephali is a clear example. Far from just being a blistering assault of black metal, acting as a linchpin to the song’s brilliance, short and snappy tempo changes are utilised to wonderful effect, allowing Þórir‘s enticing riffs room to breathe and for Viðar‘s howls to hammer home even harder. It demonstrates that SVARTIDAUÐI are far from a one dimensional band, instead, utilising subtle song mechanics to enforce their misanthropic atmosphere.

Even as the album reaches it’s latter stages, SVARTIDAUÐI continue to excel, enforcing the choking atmosphere set by the opening salvo. Reveries of Conflagration swirls from a maintained and steady opening into a passage of sheer ferocity, one in which the riffs are delivered with sheer malice and the almost avant-garde nature of its conclusion stands as one of the stand-out moments on the whole record. Finale Aureum Lux is a whole different kind of beast entirely. Standing as the longest song on the record, weighing in at just shy of 12 minutes, the track is calculated, deadly and sees the record come to a triumphant conclusion. Melodic driven guitarplay intoxicates you and holds your attention whilst cascading drum fills and monstrous vocals are deployed thoroughly across the track. It all comes to a head before the band scale down the intensity and draw to the record to a close. A strong and fitting finish to the record.

Building upon the foundations set by Flesh Cathedral, SVARTIDAUÐI have spent the past six years refining their craft to meticulous detail and the result is an utter triumph. Cold, misanthropic and utterly punishing, Revelations of the Red Sword is a phenomenal new effort from one of Iceland’s premier black metal bands. Not only does it reaffirm their status as one of the best bands in the current black metal scene, Revelations of the Red Sword stands as one of the best records of the year.

Rating: 9/10

Revelations of the Red Sword is out now via Ván Records. 

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