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VANHELGD “Atropos Doctrina”
VANHELGD “Atropos Doctrina”
By Dr. Abner Mality
Sweden’s VANHELGD is one of those chameleon type bands...constantly shifting and displaying the colors of many styles. They seem to be true to both the Stockholm “chainsaw” death metal variant and the more melodic Gotherrburg style. But there’s also some Finnish gloom ala AMORPHIS and INSOMNIUM and even a bit of blackness tossed in there, too. The result is something that’s pretty heavy but always somber and melodic.
This has got a kind of “foggy” production that is very grey and dour. It’s quite thick but sounds as if a dense layer of mist is smothering the guitars. It actually fits the tone of the music quite well. All the lyrics are in Swedish, which makes for some jawbreaking song names that are tough to attempt. When VANHELGD is at their best, they mix all their influences together seamlessly, as on the title track and the very solemn “Gravjordsfrid”, the latter of which really brings out the early AMORPHIS influences.
Yet for all that, the record seems to be missing something indefinable which could push it to the next level. It is enjoyable as you listen to it if you like melodic death metal, but once the song is over, it fades from your brain. Or at least, from my brain. I can’t put a finger on it exactly, but VANHELGD needs that missing ingredient to be the band they can be.
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