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- Bands:
SEID - Duration: 00:39:08
- Available from: 10/18/2024
- Label:
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ATMF
“Hymns To The Norse” is the fifth album by the Swedish band Seid: this combo from Stockholm was founded in 2009 by the all-rounder Seiðr, who today is joined by other musicians who play in underground groups and above all by the new drummer Pär Johannson (drummer of Craft and ex Diabolical).
Seid have done discreet things in the past, always faithful to a black metal in which the magic of ancient pagan rites, the epic atmospheres of the Viking period and the echoes of heroic fights mix: their world is enclosed within these fascinating coordinates and something this is also reflected in the new work, given that in any case they know how to play, record music with personal sounds and are perfectly capable of giving their own brand to a musical genre that has been too abused in recent decades.
The cover is rather explicit and forcefully refers us to the past world of the Vikings, where however the type of metal of reference is proposed here in its simplest, most original nature: in fact, if we necessarily have to look for points of reference in Seid's music , we need to go back a lot and dust off the groups that gave a Viking imprint to black metal such as Enslaved and, even if stylistically different, Helheim.
Therefore, far from creating atmospheres that are too (even tackily) artificially epic and bombastically 'cinematic', here the 'historical' element is there and can be felt, but it is left untraceable, it forms the backdrop to a black metal that is sufficiently articulated and concrete to same time.
“The End Of Days (Monolith II)” and “White Beast From Hell” are two significant examples of the current dimension of the Swedish band, which demonstrate on this album that they have matured compared to their worthy predecessor “Svartr Sól”, also thanks to a slightly less melodic sound and with more sustained rhythms.
The best way to still keep Viking metal alive is perhaps this: to mix it with black metal without the predictable epic nature taking over, and for this reason Seid's new album is more than discreet. In order to really leave their mark, the group could focus on a better quality of riffing in the future, if possible creating its own distinctive brand, because at the moment it is the black metal supporting base that needs to be made more personal.
If on the one hand, in fact, this rather standard base is a good canvas on which to weave Viking embroidery, on the other hand a more elaborate and personal riffing would be able to create something truly unique in which to set the pagan elements in a perfect way .
The Seid seem to have the qualities to be able to make the definitive leap in quality, you just need to know how to wait. Precisely never falling into banality is the warning left to us by a great musician and Viking warrior who will watch over extreme metal forever: Quorthon of Bathory.
Daniel D`Amico for SANREMO.FM