VALKYRJA

“Oh yes” I cry, as the first refrains of opening track ‘Origin Reversed!’ filter through the speakers. This sounds good from the off. This is a re-release of the debut album originally released in 2007 on Northern Silence Productions from Germany and, believe me, this is a good thing as it will be heard by many more people now this Swedish Black Metal band call Metal Blade Records their home. Not so much as original but with a sharp production and blasting drums they remind me of early Satyricon crossed with early Secrets of the Moon bringing the mysticism of both bands to their music. With Black Metal of this fast and emotive style, it is extremely important that you ‘feel’ the band are behind it totally and Valkyrja are certainly no slouches giving their performances the feel of human machines - unrelenting but still it’s real people playing those instruments. You get a strong feeling for dark melody, a very Swedish trait, and like many of their forebears they have a knack of giving you that melody without compromise amongst the blast-beats, even allowing for some acoustic respites before the next onslaught. Just like the aforementioned German band Secrets of the Moon, Valkyrja know how to build their songs, feeling like a tide of blackness that can never be held back. Basically this is an incredibly strong debut album that I urge you to listen to if you like your metal drenched in darkness yet possessing a clear and precise production.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Metal Blade Records

Album

THE INVOCATION OF DEMISE

Review by Paul Sims

RUNNING TIME:

43:56

RELEASE DATE:

20th July 2009

TRACK LISTING

1) Origin Reversed!
2) As Everything Rupture
3) Plague Death
4) The Vigil
5) Twilight Revelation
6) On Stillborn Wings
7) Sinister Obsession
8) Purification and Demise
9) Frostland

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Sweden

"...an incredibly strong debut album that I urge you to listen to if you like your metal drenched in darkness yet possessing a clear and precise production."