Valkyrja - The Invocation of Demise

\r\nThe Sweden-based Valkyrja, who should not be confused with their fellow Swedish of the Pagan Folk metal group of Valkyria, were formed in 2004. In 2005 they released their first demo ("Funeral to Voices") and a few months later this demo was re-released with five additional tracks under the title "Far Beyond". In 2007 the band presents their first full length album "The Invocation Of Demise" by Northern Silence Productions. Of course this review comes with a much delay but you know what they say, better late than ever!!
\r\nSo coming to the album, it features modern, melodic and raging black metal, completely filled with all of the traditional virtues of the genre, reminiscent of Dissection, Setherial, Marduk, Naglfar or Watain. The effort begins with the excellent rhythmical Intro "Origin Reversed!" something like a sonic march with distorted guitars before the hell breaks loose. With the second track ("As Everything Rapture") which is fast and merciless with the necessary black metal hardness and completely in the veins of Naglfar, Marduk leading to a total destruction. The sound is pressureful, the guitars are stinging a continuous sonic handiwork of pure vehemence with some beautiful breaks, the drum section is a relentless barrage of dynamic pounding and a continuous double bass attack while A. L.’s vocals are growly, evil and understandable but not as salient as they should be and at times they sound really bad or to be more precise as a bad version of Watain’s Erik Danielsson. Next song "Plague Death", which is a re-recorded version from their "Far Beyond" demo, continues where the first left off. Fast and merciless but instead of the continuous distortion the guitars can be at times a little bit gentler and with a cleaner fast sound. A small acoustic passage somewhere after the middle of the track serves only as a resting bridge from the initial raging battle field to another. "The Vigil" is a dark mid paced composition with a heavy and groovy atmosphere that somewhat reminded me of Marduk’s "Dreams Of Blood And Iron" mostly in the structure of the song. Simple riffage, transparent structure, but with a very beautiful guitar solo at the conclusion. "Twilight Revelation" is a totally black-metallic neck crusher, in the style of Marduk’s "Panzerdivison" and an absolutely favorite one from this album although extremely brief in its duration. The following "On Stillborn Wings" is a short, calm instrumental before the last three songs of the album. "Sinister Obsession" is a varied song with an atmospheric introduction and Dissection-esque melodic guitar lines, a variety of tempo changes from slow down tempos to numerous blastbeats of pure rage while a dark, melancholic vibe is running throughout the song. The closing songs "Purification and Demise" (re-recorded from their "Funeral Voices" Demo) and "Frosland" maintain the aggressiveness as well as the alternation of the songs. Finally, the production is decent and definitely raw with a good measure between the instruments except of course the bass which is at times inaudible and speaking of it there isn’t any current bass player in the band at the moment.
\r\nOverall, I really liked this debut and I think it is a great piece of work for a debut release but I have a small objection about the vocals which I believe they could be a lot better that this. So, all fans of the aforementioned bands come forth, another beautiful Swedish black metal band that of course will not blow your brains out yet will surely overwhelm your neck!!\r\n