Dødheimsgard : "Black Medium Current"

The 6th album this band has released since 1995 means that they value quality over quantity. Their first album in eight years. Yes, they are Norwegian black metal in the truest since of the term, but they are not just trying to replicate what Darkthrone once did. They are not afraid of blast beats as evident in the opening track. Sung vocals are used almost in equal measure to the harsh growls. They shift through many melodic moods and atmospheres. Things get really creative in the last minute. The second song has a greater buzz of tremolo picked guitars to sit against the melodies. It takes a more progressive turn into a melodic direction than the previous song. 

There are not many black metal albums coming out these days with as big of a sound, that is also this dark and wandering. They use the traditions of black metal to their advantage. Yet this album has a lush production. Their is almost a King Diamond like feel to "Interstellar Nexus". It has a very creepy feel though is more dissonant than what the King would do. Things get progressively weirder from there in the best way possible. "It Does Not Follow" finds their groove continuing down unexplored corners. They go from blues-based chords to industrial. "Voyager" is just and instrumental interlude leading into the more melancholy "Halow". The drumming is impressive, but the throb of this song feels a little less focused despite being more emotional. The song takes a more atmospheric turn in the final minute. 

There are moments when they bob and weave around the more metallic pulse, but sometimes they take turns that are less compelling than the one before it. "Abyss Perihelion Transit" gets creepier and uses the ambiance to its advantage. It wanders around like Skinny Puppy and Killing Joke jamming to prog rock. It ends back on a starker yet more dramatic flair of atmosphere and vocal color. I will give this album a 9.5, it excels at realizing it goals, while making compelling songs that take more risks than what black metal bands dare to do these days. Peaceville Records is releasing this.