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Enclosed within this 32 minute release are nine songs of dirty, raw black metal from Sweden's Styggelse. When I say raw I do not mean that awful 'necro' sound that permeates the black metal underground like a bad fart in an elevator. No, this is raw in a more punk-oriented fashion with lyrics of pure vehemence and a 'fuck you' attitude pervading the whole album. This quartet take their blueprint from Darkthrone-style black metal based around unrelenting attitude, a strong bass sound and tight guitar playing. However. whilst in latter days Darkthrone may have changed to a more punk style Styggelse is rooted firmly in the Swedish old school.
The vocals in particular are one of Styggelse's most interesting points. L. Svartvén does not have the typical black metal rasp but a rather deeper voice that puts me more in mind of Vader's frontman Piotr Wiwczarek.
Overall, Styggelse have a supremely enjoyable and solid debut here and the whole performance on this album seems effortless. It is far more accessible than most black metal and should garner the band a lot of praise. Hopefully this is the start of good things to come from this band.
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