Genfærd: Blodhævn (Album Review)

Genfærd - Blodhævn
Release date: 31/1/2020
Label: Independent
By: X.K


We are truly of to a robust and effective start this decade and beginning of 2020 when it comes to Danish black metal, that is why I have thrown myself over this second album "Blodhævn" by the Copenhagen based band Genfærd, which is released today in it's full. It has been an exciting process since I've had the pleasure of following along the album's whole development towards having their physical form in hand last night. The utterly creative artist Maxime Taccardi has physically constructed the album's artwork with his own blood, which has evolved into what appears in the picture above. The productions itself is appraised higher in comparison to the rest of their releases, which fires up each bone and muscle in the ear. All songs has their own story and one can precisely hear how they have worked supplementary together towards producing far lengthy songs with their unique own sound, touch and filled with their melodic actions.

Genfærd, taken by Adriana Zak

To talk about 'Galgenat' there, by the way, is an excellent opener that claws directly in with some pretty clear reusable Genfærd features that about 2:26 minutes inside turns into an even deeper experience with such a complete guitar riff wandering in the background that it gives goosebumps. Followed by vocals which, however, draws us from something that could have ended just as bleak as the serious noticeable formed drums, a number that drops right where it should. 'Splittelse' describes Genfærd if we compare with their debut album which has many similarities. Constantly we are reminded how important a part the drums possess and in this case they are particularly high which is something you do not associate with black metal. 'Trællegang' wars it's way into the album and shapes an immediate impression with drained vocals and subdued riffs that are catchy throughout. Anyhow these tracks do not go to the extreme enough for me compared to the last part of the album to fulfill that fortitude and toughness I associate with their sound that works every time for me on every of their live show.   

'Hævnen' tells us how we must not obliterate the strong vocal work that is marked throughout the album. Creativity is used well and thoroughly where three different vocals are within this release each bringing initiative in their own way. However, I must point out that I am quickly derived from the brightest/lightest vocal that distract throughout the album from being able to reach a deeper level of toughness, where one cannot help but deviate with the vocals on 'Varslet' which is the number after that really brings out the bleakest and darkest moments with probably the best vocals I've laid ear to for a very long time within this genre on Danish grounds... almost like my headphones collected the spit directly from the almost crippled vocal sound like I was spit straight into my ear. Raw, nasty and desolated. 
'Foragtens Flammer' is one of the songs on the record that offers memorable well-spoken riffs and here almost makes me in a good mood. The song offers a catchy tour that pulls us through its range of repetitive grilling, glowing and flaming chorus, and followed by the same type of energy in the instruments, 'Det Grå Rige' stands out solidly and express their concluded proud native language Danish. On this, it is of the highest demand that the bass for the first time comes out robust and compliment the guitars to perfection as well as the drums blasting off with the drummer's exact use of cymbals and hi-hat that also gets infected on 'Det Sidste Svigt' which is formed by the drum sound and almost ends several times but still, Genfærd shows us just who has the last words. Last, we are presented with probably the album's most clear vocals in terms of its easy sing along when 'Hedengang' keeps its pace fasten. But overall the last track doesn't do much than dragging the last four massive characteristic tracks down with its length and I think it's misplaced as a closing track. 


Personally, it feels like the album is split into two parts and I would prefer the last part . The first part of the album quickly becomes very repetitive and tiring and could well have had more expressions in the various plays especially on the guitars which at first seemed to be fully experimental towards 'Varslet' and 'Foragtens Flammer'. The bass lays tremendously far low and it is first to notice when we come towards 'Det Grå Rige' which is hugely annoying as it dresses their sound to have it adjacent and near. Above all, "Blodhævn" brings on HUGE well-written drums that simply get the highest rating followed by the vocal use that tops any other Danish black metal release in recent years.


I give this album
Out of 6 


Favorite tracks: Det Grå Rige, Foragtens Flammer
Tracklist:
  1. Galgenat
  2. Splittelse
  3. Trællegang
  4. Hævnen
  5. Varslet
  6. Foragtens Flammer
  7. Det Grå Rige
  8. Det Sidste Svigt
  9. Hedengang


Listen to "Blodhævn" here:

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