Artist..: Valravn

Album...: The Awakening

Genre...: Black Metal                | Label...: Primitive Reaction
Year....: 2023                       | Cat.No..:

R.date..: 2023-09-09                 | S.date..: 2023-09-08

Source..: WEB (16bit)                | Encoder.: libFLAC
Bitrate.: 992 kbps avg.              | F.Rate..: 44.1kHz

http://deezer.com/album/479199715

Disc 1 / 1

01. The Black Flame                                                 5:19
02. Liekki Tiemme Valaisee                                          4:58
03. Kehan Murtama                                                   5:16
04. The Great Deceit                                                4:01
05. The Insolent                                                    7:57
06. Sisyphean Torment                                               3:54
07. A Symphony of Horror                                            6:31
08. Charge of the Last Cavalry                                      5:44

(325.13MB) 00:43:40

Valravn are a Finnish black metal band and this is their second album.

Featuring a current/ex-member of Altar of Betelgeuze/Cardinals Folly, The
Awakening contains 44 minutes of expressive black metal.

Valravn play their black metal cold and fierce. The music is traditional
and grim, yet not overly so. The songs take advantage of a strong
blackened sound that drips with serrated darkness, while having a shaded
approach to atmosphere and mood that allows Valravn to shine with unholy
light.

The music showcases a cultivated balance between icy aggression and
melancholic feeling. The songs make good use of melodies that might be
caked in frost, but are also sorrowful expressions of emotive colour.
Valravn ably demonstrate their skilled songwriting throughout The
Awakening. The songs are well-structured, with an understanding of
dynamics and the need to carefully balance aggressive hostility with a
more refined, mood-heavy approach.

There are many highlights across the album’s running time, but I’ll pick
on the gradually building soundscape of The Insolent and the epic
progressive ending to A Symphony of Horror as just two that I especially
enjoy. Also, amongst the harsh screams of the vocalist I like that there
are also occasionally death metal growls that sounds really good.

The Awakening is a very enjoyable and satisfying record. It’s a black
metal album that’s steeped in old-school lore, yet twists it just enough
with contemporary presence and passion that it doesn’t feel like a
complete retread of old paths. Valravn’s songwriting and ability to craft
compelling mood-focused music with an aggressive bite has made The
Awakening a record that’s easy to keep returning to.

Very highly recommended for fans of underground gems.

ixxu!imp