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ARCKANUM “Beswaerilsin”
ARCKANUM “Beswaerilsin”
By Octopi Mills
As a man who doesn't understand the Swedish language at all, one can imagine from the promotional write up where the lyrics are going, yet it is a great handicap in such a review. Drawing from old Norse and Swedish traditions as well as the left hand path, ARCKANUM are at it again with the black metal tradition on another new album. These days there is definitely a clearer sound and production as well as a melodic sense. This album is on the label Darkness Shall Rise and should be released on Halloween.
Though the music is still somewhat raw and brutal, it certainly is far from the earlier material. There are touches of atmospheric flair here that lend a soundtrack sort of quality to some of the songs; little interludes and pieces if you will. The feral music of ARCKANUM has always had its own sound, though I must confess that I was never a huge listener of most Swedish metal, for some reason, other than a handful of bands. The vocals take on a beastly and lycanthropic sort of quality, and I feel this is something that makes the project have a unique attribute. Almost as if listening to someone who is possessed by a wild ancestral totemic beast; like one in the skin of bear or wolf. The Scandinavian feel of this album is a strong one and boasts a long running time in length compared to most black metal albums. I have not followed this project in some time so it was interesting to see what Shaamatae was up to and it seems he never lost his passion or creative fire. ARCKANUM never quite sounded like the rest of the genre, and does not here either, opting for his own path on the left hand road. May he fare well in his future endeavors.
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