Henget : "Beyond North Star"

This band from Finland combines black metal with 70s prog. What makes this work, is how they learned the bands form the 70's put writing songs first rather than progressing into sprawling wanking with nothing to draw you in. The snarl of the vocals , is the least interesting element of what is in motion here. There is dizzying moments of musicianship, but it is balanced with catchy syncopation and melody. On the second song the more mindboggling side of their playing begins to run away with the song until the jazzy middle section. These are done in very compact formats as none of the songs sprawl out over the five minute mark. "Henkivallat' is more deliberate in it's punchy syncopation and chanted vocals . 

The guitars buzz to life with the more standard black metal tremolo picking for "the Great Spiral". The vocals are a more declarative snarl. It reminds me of a less orchestral Dimmu. Further listens I picked up on the more thrashing vibe of the verses. They vocals sit back in the mix more and have a raw distortion to them. As the song progresses it gets darker which I appreciate. Not an album that relies on blast beats or the standard conventions of black metal, yet they pour the speed on going into the title track. The verse riff has an almost death metal aggression to it. It is not as memorable as the previous. Though it depends on what you listen for when it comes to heavy music. If you want a heavier punch packed it does carry that. It also rips into a guitar solo, which black metal normally has less of. 

There is a less proggy more straight forward heaviness to "Lovi" that uses synths to color the edges of the song in a similar manner to older Sigh. Sigh is a band they share common ground with when it comes the balance of prog and black metal. The last song plays it safe while still indulging the band in their weird brand of black metal, but the sounds feel like they might if assembled by AI trying to recreate black metal without having heard it. I will give this album an 8, they start strong and take more chances while caring about the songs, which is more than you are getting from most black metal these days if judging by what comes though my in-box. Comes out May 18th on Season of Mist.