#kvelertak — Public Fediverse posts

Suncraft – Welcome to the Coven Review

I first became acquainted with stoner rock while attending college and skiing in Salt Lake City. Whether carving…
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https://www.europesays.com/ie/203276/ Suncraft – Welcome to the Coven Review #2025 #4.0 #AllGoodCleanRecords #BlackMetal #Éire #Entertainment #GarageRock #IE #Ireland #Japandroids #Kvelertak #Music #NorwegianMetal #Nov25 #PopPunk #QueensOfTheStoneAge #Review #Reviews #StonerRock #Suncraft #TheBeachBoys #TheDOGS #TheRamones #TheSword #WelcomeToTheCoven

Suncraft – Welcome to the Coven Review

By Spicie Forrest

I first became acquainted with stoner rock while attending college and skiing in Salt Lake City. Whether carving the corduroy or taking face shots of bottomless pow, the raucous groove of the style made for a great soundtrack. I’ve largely moved on to heavier and less accessible pastures, but once in a while, something brings me back. This time, it was Suncraft, a five-piece formed in Oslo, Norway in 2017; I couldn’t let a genre tag like “stoner/black/pop” pass by unyoinked. We missed their 2021 debut, Flat Earth Rider, but I’m here to give their sophomore effort, Welcome to the Coven, the proper AMG treatment.

Suncraft has historically relied on mid-paced stoner rock, but their second LP sees the band move in a different direction. Welcome to the Coven is what happens when Queens of the Stone Age wields The Sword and walks The DOGS. It’s riotous, retro, and downright groovy. With a triple-pronged attack, guitarists Vebørn Rindal Krogstad, Sigurd Grøtan, and Jens Henrik Kverndal let loose a wildly infectious salvo of stoner and garage rock. “Welcome to the Coven” and “Forgotten Goddess” rip across the desert in an old convertible Mustang powered solely by diesel and sativa. “Love’s Underrated” gives garage revival and a little Japandroids, while “Wizards of the Anger Magic” opens on The Beach Boys and pays heavy tribute to The Ramones. Mixed into this strong foundation you’ll also find riffage stained black (“Ragebait”), pop punk angst (“Greed Battalion”), posty and proggy diversions (“High on Silence”), and even a millennial whoop or two. These are disparate elements to bring under one umbrella, but like fellow countrymen Kvelertak, Suncraft pull it off well.

In a brew stereotypically known for wanton abandon, Welcome to the Coven succeeds through restraint. Post-black and pop punk normally make bridge- or hook-centered appearances, being used as means to build drama and release tension rather than ends in themselves. Drummer Tobias Paulsen utilizes a predominantly upbeat rock style, but he’s got a full toolbox. He deploys d-beats, hooks and fills, blast beats, and tempo changes with precision for maximum emotional impact (“Love’s Underrated,” “Welcome to the Coven”). The same can be said of bassist/singer Rasmus Skage Jensen, whose strings feel elementally nostalgic, both in tone and in their intentionally dynamic grounding of hooks, leads, and rhythmic support. And by keeping a normally tight grip on his vocals, the moments when Jensen lets loose and pushes his pipes to their limit shine all the brighter (“Greed Battalion,” “Forgotten Goddess”). Rather than employing an unchecked, maximalist style, Suncraft’s tempered and deceptively meticulous songcraft elevates Welcome to the Coven far above the sum of its parts.

Suncraft doesn’t treat the incorporation of these various flourishes as puzzles to be solved. Instead, every element on Welcome to the Coven seems chosen and placed to best support a deliriously and irresistibly fun grand design. This approach and Suncraft’s success with it grant them an inimitable air of sprezzatura.1 Krogstad, Grøtan, and Kverndal spin around each other so naturally, offering inspired counterpoints (“Wizards of the Anger Magic”), tossing in pristine fills (“High on Silence”), and passing leads and solos like a hacky sack (“Love’s Underrated,” “Forgotten Goddess”). I don’t for one second believe that Jensen’s interjectory “fuck it” on “Greed Battalion” or Paulsen’s double bass in “Welcome to the Coven” are off the cuff; this album is far too good for that. But when I hear the killer solo in “Love’s Underrated,” the exceptional back half of “Charlatan Killer,” or the barely controlled chaos that is “Forgotten Goddess,” I can’t help but be awed by the explosive synergy on display here—and the casual effortlessness of it.

I had high hopes when I picked up Welcome to the Coven, and from the first seconds of “Ragebait” to the final cymbals of “Forgotten Goddess,”2 Suncraft blew me away. The chorus of “Charlatan Killer” was the only exception, being merely good in a sea of great. Each track on Suncraft’s sophomore effort fits together naturally and neatly in a singular, unified vision. Primally familiar like the mythical dog days of summer, Welcome to the Coven is an astoundingly fun ride. By the end of its 40-minute runtime, I’m invariably left craving more. And if that isn’t the mark of a great album, I don’t know what is.

Rating: 4.0/5.0
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: All Good Clean Records
Websites: Facebook | Instagram
Releases Worldwide: November 21st, 2025

#2025 #40 #allGoodCleanRecords #blackMetal #garageRock #japandroids #kvelertak #norwegianMetal #nov25 #popPunk #queensOfTheStoneAge #review #reviews #stonerRock #suncraft #theBeachBoys #theDogs #theRamones #theSword #welcomeToTheCoven

Suncraft – Welcome to the Coven Review

By Spicie Forrest

I first became acquainted with stoner rock while attending college and skiing in Salt Lake City. Whether carving the corduroy or taking face shots of bottomless pow, the raucous groove of the style made for a great soundtrack. I’ve largely moved on to heavier and less accessible pastures, but once in a while, something brings me back. This time, it was Suncraft, a five-piece formed in Oslo, Norway in 2017; I couldn’t let a genre tag like “stoner/black/pop” pass by unyoinked. We missed their 2021 debut, Flat Earth Rider, but I’m here to give their sophomore effort, Welcome to the Coven, the proper AMG treatment.

Suncraft has historically relied on mid-paced stoner rock, but their second LP sees the band move in a different direction. Welcome to the Coven is what happens when Queens of the Stone Age wields The Sword and walks The DOGS. It’s riotous, retro, and downright groovy. With a triple-pronged attack, guitarists Vebørn Rindal Krogstad, Sigurd Grøtan, and Jens Henrik Kverndal let loose a wildly infectious salvo of stoner and garage rock. “Welcome to the Coven” and “Forgotten Goddess” rip across the desert in an old convertible Mustang powered solely by diesel and sativa. “Love’s Underrated” gives garage revival and a little Japandroids, while “Wizards of the Anger Magic” opens on The Beach Boys and pays heavy tribute to The Ramones. Mixed into this strong foundation you’ll also find riffage stained black (“Ragebait”), pop punk angst (“Greed Battalion”), posty and proggy diversions (“High on Silence”), and even a millennial whoop or two. These are disparate elements to bring under one umbrella, but like fellow countrymen Kvelertak, Suncraft pull it off well.

In a brew stereotypically known for wanton abandon, Welcome to the Coven succeeds through restraint. Post-black and pop punk normally make bridge- or hook-centered appearances, being used as means to build drama and release tension rather than ends in themselves. Drummer Tobias Paulsen utilizes a predominantly upbeat rock style, but he’s got a full toolbox. He deploys d-beats, hooks and fills, blast beats, and tempo changes with precision for maximum emotional impact (“Love’s Underrated,” “Welcome to the Coven”). The same can be said of bassist/singer Rasmus Skage Jensen, whose strings feel elementally nostalgic, both in tone and in their intentionally dynamic grounding of hooks, leads, and rhythmic support. And by keeping a normally tight grip on his vocals, the moments when Jensen lets loose and pushes his pipes to their limit shine all the brighter (“Greed Battalion,” “Forgotten Goddess”). Rather than employing an unchecked, maximalist style, Suncraft’s tempered and deceptively meticulous songcraft elevates Welcome to the Coven far above the sum of its parts.

Suncraft doesn’t treat the incorporation of these various flourishes as puzzles to be solved. Instead, every element on Welcome to the Coven seems chosen and placed to best support a deliriously and irresistibly fun grand design. This approach and Suncraft’s success with it grant them an inimitable air of sprezzatura.1 Krogstad, Grøtan, and Kverndal spin around each other so naturally, offering inspired counterpoints (“Wizards of the Anger Magic”), tossing in pristine fills (“High on Silence”), and passing leads and solos like a hacky sack (“Love’s Underrated,” “Forgotten Goddess”). I don’t for one second believe that Jensen’s interjectory “fuck it” on “Greed Battalion” or Paulsen’s double bass in “Welcome to the Coven” are off the cuff; this album is far too good for that. But when I hear the killer solo in “Love’s Underrated,” the exceptional back half of “Charlatan Killer,” or the barely controlled chaos that is “Forgotten Goddess,” I can’t help but be awed by the explosive synergy on display here—and the casual effortlessness of it.

I had high hopes when I picked up Welcome to the Coven, and from the first seconds of “Ragebait” to the final cymbals of “Forgotten Goddess,”2 Suncraft blew me away. The chorus of “Charlatan Killer” was the only exception, being merely good in a sea of great. Each track on Suncraft’s sophomore effort fits together naturally and neatly in a singular, unified vision. Primally familiar like the mythical dog days of summer, Welcome to the Coven is an astoundingly fun ride. By the end of its 40-minute runtime, I’m invariably left craving more. And if that isn’t the mark of a great album, I don’t know what is.

Rating: 4.0/5.0
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: All Good Clean Records
Websites: Facebook | Instagram
Releases Worldwide: November 21st, 2025

#2025 #40 #allGoodCleanRecords #blackMetal #garageRock #japandroids #kvelertak #norwegianMetal #nov25 #popPunk #queensOfTheStoneAge #review #reviews #stonerRock #suncraft #theBeachBoys #theDogs #theRamones #theSword #welcomeToTheCoven

Suncraft – Welcome to the Coven Review

By Spicie Forrest

I first became acquainted with stoner rock while attending college and skiing in Salt Lake City. Whether carving the corduroy or taking face shots of bottomless pow, the raucous groove of the style made for a great soundtrack. I’ve largely moved on to heavier and less accessible pastures, but once in a while, something brings me back. This time, it was Suncraft, a five-piece formed in Oslo, Norway in 2017; I couldn’t let a genre tag like “stoner/black/pop” pass by unyoinked. We missed their 2021 debut, Flat Earth Rider, but I’m here to give their sophomore effort, Welcome to the Coven, the proper AMG treatment.

Suncraft has historically relied on mid-paced stoner rock, but their second LP sees the band move in a different direction. Welcome to the Coven is what happens when Queens of the Stone Age wields The Sword and walks The DOGS. It’s riotous, retro, and downright groovy. With a triple-pronged attack, guitarists Vebørn Rindal Krogstad, Sigurd Grøtan, and Jens Henrik Kverndal let loose a wildly infectious salvo of stoner and garage rock. “Welcome to the Coven” and “Forgotten Goddess” rip across the desert in an old convertible Mustang powered solely by diesel and sativa. “Love’s Underrated” gives garage revival and a little Japandroids, while “Wizards of the Anger Magic” opens on The Beach Boys and pays heavy tribute to The Ramones. Mixed into this strong foundation you’ll also find riffage stained black (“Ragebait”), pop punk angst (“Greed Battalion”), posty and proggy diversions (“High on Silence”), and even a millennial whoop or two. These are disparate elements to bring under one umbrella, but like fellow countrymen Kvelertak, Suncraft pull it off well.

In a brew stereotypically known for wanton abandon, Welcome to the Coven succeeds through restraint. Post-black and pop punk normally make bridge- or hook-centered appearances, being used as means to build drama and release tension rather than ends in themselves. Drummer Tobias Paulsen utilizes a predominantly upbeat rock style, but he’s got a full toolbox. He deploys d-beats, hooks and fills, blast beats, and tempo changes with precision for maximum emotional impact (“Love’s Underrated,” “Welcome to the Coven”). The same can be said of bassist/singer Rasmus Skage Jensen, whose strings feel elementally nostalgic, both in tone and in their intentionally dynamic grounding of hooks, leads, and rhythmic support. And by keeping a normally tight grip on his vocals, the moments when Jensen lets loose and pushes his pipes to their limit shine all the brighter (“Greed Battalion,” “Forgotten Goddess”). Rather than employing an unchecked, maximalist style, Suncraft’s tempered and deceptively meticulous songcraft elevates Welcome to the Coven far above the sum of its parts.

Suncraft doesn’t treat the incorporation of these various flourishes as puzzles to be solved. Instead, every element on Welcome to the Coven seems chosen and placed to best support a deliriously and irresistibly fun grand design. This approach and Suncraft’s success with it grant them an inimitable air of sprezzatura.1 Krogstad, Grøtan, and Kverndal spin around each other so naturally, offering inspired counterpoints (“Wizards of the Anger Magic”), tossing in pristine fills (“High on Silence”), and passing leads and solos like a hacky sack (“Love’s Underrated,” “Forgotten Goddess”). I don’t for one second believe that Jensen’s interjectory “fuck it” on “Greed Battalion” or Paulsen’s double bass in “Welcome to the Coven” are off the cuff; this album is far too good for that. But when I hear the killer solo in “Love’s Underrated,” the exceptional back half of “Charlatan Killer,” or the barely controlled chaos that is “Forgotten Goddess,” I can’t help but be awed by the explosive synergy on display here—and the casual effortlessness of it.

I had high hopes when I picked up Welcome to the Coven, and from the first seconds of “Ragebait” to the final cymbals of “Forgotten Goddess,”2 Suncraft blew me away. The chorus of “Charlatan Killer” was the only exception, being merely good in a sea of great. Each track on Suncraft’s sophomore effort fits together naturally and neatly in a singular, unified vision. Primally familiar like the mythical dog days of summer, Welcome to the Coven is an astoundingly fun ride. By the end of its 40-minute runtime, I’m invariably left craving more. And if that isn’t the mark of a great album, I don’t know what is.

Rating: 4.0/5.0
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: All Good Clean Records
Websites: Facebook | Instagram
Releases Worldwide: November 21st, 2025

#2025 #40 #allGoodCleanRecords #blackMetal #garageRock #japandroids #kvelertak #norwegianMetal #nov25 #popPunk #queensOfTheStoneAge #review #reviews #stonerRock #suncraft #theBeachBoys #theDogs #theRamones #theSword #welcomeToTheCoven

Suncraft – Welcome to the Coven Review

By Spicie Forrest

I first became acquainted with stoner rock while attending college and skiing in Salt Lake City. Whether carving the corduroy or taking face shots of bottomless pow, the raucous groove of the style made for a great soundtrack. I’ve largely moved on to heavier and less accessible pastures, but once in a while, something brings me back. This time, it was Suncraft, a five-piece formed in Oslo, Norway in 2017; I couldn’t let a genre tag like “stoner/black/pop” pass by unyoinked. We missed their 2021 debut, Flat Earth Rider, but I’m here to give their sophomore effort, Welcome to the Coven, the proper AMG treatment.

Suncraft has historically relied on mid-paced stoner rock, but their second LP sees the band move in a different direction. Welcome to the Coven is what happens when Queens of the Stone Age wields The Sword and walks The DOGS. It’s riotous, retro, and downright groovy. With a triple-pronged attack, guitarists Vebørn Rindal Krogstad, Sigurd Grøtan, and Jens Henrik Kverndal let loose a wildly infectious salvo of stoner and garage rock. “Welcome to the Coven” and “Forgotten Goddess” rip across the desert in an old convertible Mustang powered solely by diesel and sativa. “Love’s Underrated” gives garage revival and a little Japandroids, while “Wizards of the Anger Magic” opens on The Beach Boys and pays heavy tribute to The Ramones. Mixed into this strong foundation you’ll also find riffage stained black (“Ragebait”), pop punk angst (“Greed Battalion”), posty and proggy diversions (“High on Silence”), and even a millennial whoop or two. These are disparate elements to bring under one umbrella, but like fellow countrymen Kvelertak, Suncraft pull it off well.

In a brew stereotypically known for wanton abandon, Welcome to the Coven succeeds through restraint. Post-black and pop punk normally make bridge- or hook-centered appearances, being used as means to build drama and release tension rather than ends in themselves. Drummer Tobias Paulsen utilizes a predominantly upbeat rock style, but he’s got a full toolbox. He deploys d-beats, hooks and fills, blast beats, and tempo changes with precision for maximum emotional impact (“Love’s Underrated,” “Welcome to the Coven”). The same can be said of bassist/singer Rasmus Skage Jensen, whose strings feel elementally nostalgic, both in tone and in their intentionally dynamic grounding of hooks, leads, and rhythmic support. And by keeping a normally tight grip on his vocals, the moments when Jensen lets loose and pushes his pipes to their limit shine all the brighter (“Greed Battalion,” “Forgotten Goddess”). Rather than employing an unchecked, maximalist style, Suncraft’s tempered and deceptively meticulous songcraft elevates Welcome to the Coven far above the sum of its parts.

Suncraft doesn’t treat the incorporation of these various flourishes as puzzles to be solved. Instead, every element on Welcome to the Coven seems chosen and placed to best support a deliriously and irresistibly fun grand design. This approach and Suncraft’s success with it grant them an inimitable air of sprezzatura.1 Krogstad, Grøtan, and Kverndal spin around each other so naturally, offering inspired counterpoints (“Wizards of the Anger Magic”), tossing in pristine fills (“High on Silence”), and passing leads and solos like a hacky sack (“Love’s Underrated,” “Forgotten Goddess”). I don’t for one second believe that Jensen’s interjectory “fuck it” on “Greed Battalion” or Paulsen’s double bass in “Welcome to the Coven” are off the cuff; this album is far too good for that. But when I hear the killer solo in “Love’s Underrated,” the exceptional back half of “Charlatan Killer,” or the barely controlled chaos that is “Forgotten Goddess,” I can’t help but be awed by the explosive synergy on display here—and the casual effortlessness of it.

I had high hopes when I picked up Welcome to the Coven, and from the first seconds of “Ragebait” to the final cymbals of “Forgotten Goddess,”2 Suncraft blew me away. The chorus of “Charlatan Killer” was the only exception, being merely good in a sea of great. Each track on Suncraft’s sophomore effort fits together naturally and neatly in a singular, unified vision. Primally familiar like the mythical dog days of summer, Welcome to the Coven is an astoundingly fun ride. By the end of its 40-minute runtime, I’m invariably left craving more. And if that isn’t the mark of a great album, I don’t know what is.

Rating: 4.0/5.0
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: All Good Clean Records
Websites: Facebook | Instagram
Releases Worldwide: November 21st, 2025

#2025 #40 #allGoodCleanRecords #blackMetal #garageRock #japandroids #kvelertak #norwegianMetal #nov25 #popPunk #queensOfTheStoneAge #review #reviews #stonerRock #suncraft #theBeachBoys #theDogs #theRamones #theSword #welcomeToTheCoven

Suncraft – Welcome to the Coven Review

By Spicie Forrest

I first became acquainted with stoner rock while attending college and skiing in Salt Lake City. Whether carving the corduroy or taking face shots of bottomless pow, the raucous groove of the style made for a great soundtrack. I’ve largely moved on to heavier and less accessible pastures, but once in a while, something brings me back. This time, it was Suncraft, a five-piece formed in Oslo, Norway in 2017; I couldn’t let a genre tag like “stoner/black/pop” pass by unyoinked. We missed their 2021 debut, Flat Earth Rider, but I’m here to give their sophomore effort, Welcome to the Coven, the proper AMG treatment.

Suncraft has historically relied on mid-paced stoner rock, but their second LP sees the band move in a different direction. Welcome to the Coven is what happens when Queens of the Stone Age wields The Sword and walks The DOGS. It’s riotous, retro, and downright groovy. With a triple-pronged attack, guitarists Vebørn Rindal Krogstad, Sigurd Grøtan, and Jens Henrik Kverndal let loose a wildly infectious salvo of stoner and garage rock. “Welcome to the Coven” and “Forgotten Goddess” rip across the desert in an old convertible Mustang powered solely by diesel and sativa. “Love’s Underrated” gives garage revival and a little Japandroids, while “Wizards of the Anger Magic” opens on The Beach Boys and pays heavy tribute to The Ramones. Mixed into this strong foundation you’ll also find riffage stained black (“Ragebait”), pop punk angst (“Greed Battalion”), posty and proggy diversions (“High on Silence”), and even a millennial whoop or two. These are disparate elements to bring under one umbrella, but like fellow countrymen Kvelertak, Suncraft pull it off well.

In a brew stereotypically known for wanton abandon, Welcome to the Coven succeeds through restraint. Post-black and pop punk normally make bridge- or hook-centered appearances, being used as means to build drama and release tension rather than ends in themselves. Drummer Tobias Paulsen utilizes a predominantly upbeat rock style, but he’s got a full toolbox. He deploys d-beats, hooks and fills, blast beats, and tempo changes with precision for maximum emotional impact (“Love’s Underrated,” “Welcome to the Coven”). The same can be said of bassist/singer Rasmus Skage Jensen, whose strings feel elementally nostalgic, both in tone and in their intentionally dynamic grounding of hooks, leads, and rhythmic support. And by keeping a normally tight grip on his vocals, the moments when Jensen lets loose and pushes his pipes to their limit shine all the brighter (“Greed Battalion,” “Forgotten Goddess”). Rather than employing an unchecked, maximalist style, Suncraft’s tempered and deceptively meticulous songcraft elevates Welcome to the Coven far above the sum of its parts.

Suncraft doesn’t treat the incorporation of these various flourishes as puzzles to be solved. Instead, every element on Welcome to the Coven seems chosen and placed to best support a deliriously and irresistibly fun grand design. This approach and Suncraft’s success with it grant them an inimitable air of sprezzatura.1 Krogstad, Grøtan, and Kverndal spin around each other so naturally, offering inspired counterpoints (“Wizards of the Anger Magic”), tossing in pristine fills (“High on Silence”), and passing leads and solos like a hacky sack (“Love’s Underrated,” “Forgotten Goddess”). I don’t for one second believe that Jensen’s interjectory “fuck it” on “Greed Battalion” or Paulsen’s double bass in “Welcome to the Coven” are off the cuff; this album is far too good for that. But when I hear the killer solo in “Love’s Underrated,” the exceptional back half of “Charlatan Killer,” or the barely controlled chaos that is “Forgotten Goddess,” I can’t help but be awed by the explosive synergy on display here—and the casual effortlessness of it.

I had high hopes when I picked up Welcome to the Coven, and from the first seconds of “Ragebait” to the final cymbals of “Forgotten Goddess,”2 Suncraft blew me away. The chorus of “Charlatan Killer” was the only exception, being merely good in a sea of great. Each track on Suncraft’s sophomore effort fits together naturally and neatly in a singular, unified vision. Primally familiar like the mythical dog days of summer, Welcome to the Coven is an astoundingly fun ride. By the end of its 40-minute runtime, I’m invariably left craving more. And if that isn’t the mark of a great album, I don’t know what is.

Rating: 4.0/5.0
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: All Good Clean Records
Websites: Facebook | Instagram
Releases Worldwide: November 21st, 2025

#2025 #40 #allGoodCleanRecords #blackMetal #garageRock #japandroids #kvelertak #norwegianMetal #nov25 #popPunk #queensOfTheStoneAge #review #reviews #stonerRock #suncraft #theBeachBoys #theDogs #theRamones #theSword #welcomeToTheCoven

Gruta – Hymnus Ad Atram Mortem Review

By Spicie Forrest

In his most recent visit to terrorize the unwashed masses known as writers, Steel gave me a choice: volunteer to cover Gruta or be voluntold to cover something (else) of his choosing. So it was that I found myself reviewing Gruta’s sophomore release, Hymnus Ad Atram Mortem. Hailing from Bogotá, Colombia, Gruta plays a style of black metal they’ve labeled “Chaos Black, a twisted gnarled amalgamation of black metal’s most vicious bits.”1 Between this description, loudly antifascist messaging, and opening the record by sampling the Dark Lord Sauron, my expectations were high. Does Hymnus Ad Atram Mortem deliver, or is Gruta just another passionate young band in search of their identity?

The core of Gruta’s sound straddles the line between black metal’s first and second waves. Although Hymnus Ad Atram Mortem opens bright and playful à la Slaegt, it quickly settles into something more traditional (“Niebla”). Drummer Flama unleashes blast beats and d-beat-laden assaults in equal measure, while guitarists Agnen and Garmr wildly oscillate between punky Bathory riffcraft and Immortally searing tremolos (“Oda a la Ruina,” “M.A.F.M”2). The resulting baseline is like a distant cousin to Darkthrone. Vocalist Dagnir is nearly a dead ringer for Mayhem, frog voice and all. Whether whipping up a crowd (“Ramas de Araña,” “Sword of Defilement”) or shouting incantations like Saruman over the winds of Caradhras (“Transfiguración”), Dagnir commands an impressive range of rasps, howls, shrieks, and croaks. Rather than choosing between black metal’s punky origins and the icy, atmospheric howl it became, Gruta uses both as a springboard for what they ultimately create.

“Chaos Black” had me expecting unhinged war metal, heavy dissonance, or traces of grindcore. Not so, apparently. While their blackened core is indeed closest to Darkthrone, Gruta incorporates DSBM atmospherics (“Stygos Tou Kosmos,” “M.A.F.M.”), heavy metal (“Oda a la Ruina,” “Ramas de Araña”3), Slayer-esque thrashing (“Al-Shuhada,” “Sword of Defilement”), punky piss and vinegar (“Ramas de Araña,” “M.A.F.M.”) and even emotive atmoblack structures (“Vorágine Espectral”). Rather than a caustic brew, the result shares much in common with Kvelertak. By injecting their formula with such wide-ranging styles, Gruta offers a fun and engaging ride. In crafting this refreshing take on black metal, Ataecina’s bass unexpectedly steals the show. Surprisingly forward in the mix, it’s vibrant and warm, very like Iron Maiden’s early releases. Ataecina weaves and dances around central riffs and rhythms, nimbly alternating between counterpointed leads and supporting Agnen and Garmr’s guitars (“Oda a la Ruina,” “Ramas de Araña”). Gruta is certainly black metal, but it is their ambitious maelstrom of influences that separates them from the pack.

Gruta’s biggest difficulty is in keeping their momentum up through the album. Opener “Niebla” struggles to get off the ground because of a false ending one minute in, and with a slow, atmospheric interlude that takes up a quarter of the track, “Niebla” feels more like a botched teaser than an actual song. “Stygos Tou Kosmos” suffers similarly. It downshifts from mid-paced, Mayhem-heavy black metal to haunting and eerie DSBM around 1:30, lingering there without clear purpose until it fades out two and a half minutes later. I hate to knock a song that literally screams “Death to Fascist Metal,” but “M.A.F.M.” has the same issue; the first half is an absolutely vitriolic barn burner, but the back half runs out of gas early and takes a couple minutes to eke across the finish line. I think if these songs were cut up differently, or perhaps ordered differently, this may not be as much of an issue, but as it stands, I find myself wanting to skip about a third of the album.

Opening with a soundbyte of Sauron the Deceiver is a good foot to start on, but Gruta doesn’t really need it. Retro guitars, iconic vocals, a deliciously clever bass, and punky, energetic drums come together to honor the greats and forge a path all Gruta’s own. Far from the harrowing trip I expected, Hymnus Ad Atram Mortem has a classic, old school feel, decked out in fun, nostalgic threads. Gruta’s style does come dangerously close to the kitchen sink, and I’d like to see a smidge more focus and a keener ear toward holistic composition on future releases. But problems aside, Hymnus Ad Atram Mortem is a solid and exploratory sophomore effort from a passionate band, and I’ll be very interested to see what Gruta does next.

Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 5 | Format Reviewed: WAV
Label: Liminal Dread Productions
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram
Releases Worldwide: November 7th, 2025

#2025 #30 #Bathory #BlackMetal #ColumbianMetal #Darkthrone #Gruta #HymnusAdAtramMortem #Immortal #IronMaiden #Kvelertak #LiminalDreadProductions #Mayhem #Nov25 #Review #Reviews #Slaegt #Slayer

In 2023 I listened to 71 new releases which I ranked in my #TomsAOTY2023

Looking back, I only find 9 albums that I keep coming back to.

I re-ranked them. The numbers next to the album name indicate changes compared to my original list.

The one to rule them all is still King Gila! 👑 🦎

🎵 https://song.link/at/i/1684380711

#KingGizzardAndTheLizardWizard #Hellripper #Kvelertak #Dusk #QueensOfTheStoneAge #QOTSA #Godsmack #Screamer #Obituary

I’m going to see #kvelertak tomorrow night, and I AM VERY EXCITED. I missed them about 8 years ago when I didn’t go to a gig I had a ticket for because I was jet lagged, and I’ve regretted it ever since. I may get little emotional when they come on stage.

There are bands you have to be in the mood for.

Kvelertak is not such a band.

So, here we go:

Hill Odin! Hill Satan! 🤘

🎵 Krøterveg Te Helvete by Kvelertak
💿 Endling, 2023
▶️ https://song.link/y/PhwagU5k5-4

#TomsMusic #NowPlaying #Kvelertak

Kvelertak parts ways with longtime guitarist:

#Kvelertak #BjarteLundRolland #TouringUpdate #News

https://metalinsider.net/touring/kvelertak-parts-ways-with-longtime-guitarist

Music for Halloween.
Hope you enjoy!

Kvelertak - Månelyst
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enrmDWVAZBw

Royal Blood - Out of the Black
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSdtvfBQd6c

Mastodon - March of the Fire Ants
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uShqlufsq5w

clipping. - Nothing is Safe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIrpLBShe1A

Hollywood Burns - Once Upon a Time (In Hell)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgLOlRq41Yk&list=PLHTo__bpnlYW6-X5Y_cuo6bVJtO3flFHQ&index=1

1/3 :p

#TheHalloween #Music #HEAVY #ThursdayFiveList #Halloween #Horror #Kvelertak #RoyalBlood #Mastodon #Clipping #HollywoodBurns #Metal #Experimental #DarkSynth

It's #TuneTuesday time with heroines and heros, because @EisenTukan says #ByThisAxeIRule

So let's take things north and bring out the Berserker 🪓

(at least I think that Kvelertak sing about a figure here, because I have no idea what they actually sing about, my Norwegian is a bit rusty)

🎵 Berserkr by #Kvelertak
💿 Nattesferd, 2016
▶️ https://song.link/at/i/1099189039

Finally, Kvelertak are coming to the UK. Have just booked my ticket. #metal #kvelertak

Feierabend!

Signing off with some melodic Kvelertak.

🎵 Heksebrann by #Kvelertak
💿 Nattesferd, 2016
▶️ https://song.link/y/20-7gAm3riY

Hm... maybe my (fictional) album #Paineraser should sound a bit like Kvelertak? 🤔

Inspired by some of you, a 3x3 retrospective of my last week in music.

#Queen #Kvelertak #Amorphis #Garbage #Kanonenfieber #REM #Toms3x3

This week started with Queen but over the last couple of days it was all Hellripper, Kanonenfieber and Kvelertak for me.

Time to end this work week with some bangers 🤘

🎵 Skoggangr by #Kvelertak 🇳🇴
💿 Endling, 2023
▶️ https://song.link/y/w_CXZdYNtcc

Med nebb og klør
Står stand mod alt
Te dagen eg dør
Ska blod bli spilt
Til jord uden et spor
Brent barn står klar

You know?

#TomsMusic #NowPlaying

For #MittwochMetalMix something that makes me wanna learn Norwegian 🇳🇴

You gotta love these Black'n'Roll lads from Kvelertak 🤘

Hill Odin! Hill Satan!
Ein fornøyelige krøterveg te helvete!

🎵 Krøterveg Te Helvete by #Kvelertak
💿 Endling, 2023
▶️ https://song.link/y/PhwagU5k5-4

#TomsMusic #NowPlaying #BlackNRoll

After 72 very long and miserable minutes with The Cure, it is time for some earbleach.

KVELERTAK!

🎵 Åpenbaring by #Kvelertak
💿 Meir (2013)
▶️ https://song.link/y/4yOVFxVFqcg

#TomsMusic #NowPlaying #Meir #BlackNRoll

Last flight of #Kvelertak

(belated #BandShirtFriday)

Festival Review: Hellfest 2024 – Day 3

My saturday started with a logisitical challenge that allowed me to test two things. First, the quality of the public transports in Nantes as well as the ones set up by the Hellfest and second, if all my hikes and performances were of any use in this situation. I manage

https://www.moshville.co.uk/reviews/gig-review/2024/07/festival-review-hellfest-2024-day-3/

#GigReviews #CorvusCorax #Eivr #Hellfest #Korpiklaani #Kvelertak #Sklmld #Wayfarer

#TheMetalDogArticleList
#BraveWords
Today In Metal History 🤘 June 21st, 2024🤘DON AIREY, AEROSMITH, WINGER, MÖTLEY CRÜE, WHITE LION, EXODUS
Heavy Birthdays 80th Ray Davies (THE KINKS) - 1944 THE KINKS have sold over 50 million albums worldwide. .

https://bravewords.com/news/today-in-metal-history-june-21st-2024don-airey-aerosmith-winger-motley-crue-white-lion-exodus

#DonAirey #Aerosmith #Winger #MotleyCru #WhiteLion #Exodus #DeepPurple #JudasPriest #OzzyOsbourne #Rainbow #RayDavies #TheKinks #Kvelertak #Sunburst #Queen #AxelRudiPell #RobinTrower #Candy #Intranced

#TheMetalDogArticleList
#BraveWords
Today In Metal History 🤘 June 21st, 2024🤘DON AIREY, AEROSMITH, WINGER, MÖTLEY CRÜE, WHITE LION, EXODUS
Heavy Birthdays 80th Ray Davies (THE KINKS) - 1944 THE KINKS have sold over 50 million albums worldwide. .

https://bravewords.com/news/today-in-metal-history-june-21st-2024don-airey-aerosmith-winger-motley-crue-white-lion-exodus

#DonAirey #Aerosmith #Winger #MotleyCru #WhiteLion #Exodus #DeepPurple #JudasPriest #OzzyOsbourne #Rainbow #RayDavies #TheKinks #Kvelertak #Sunburst #Queen #AxelRudiPell #RobinTrower #Candy #Intranced

#TheMetalDogArticleList
#BraveWords
Today In Metal History 🤘 June 21st, 2024🤘DON AIREY, AEROSMITH, WINGER, MÖTLEY CRÜE, WHITE LION, EXODUS
Heavy Birthdays 80th Ray Davies (THE KINKS) - 1944 THE KINKS have sold over 50 million albums worldwide. .

https://bravewords.com/news/today-in-metal-history-june-21st-2024don-airey-aerosmith-winger-motley-crue-white-lion-exodus

#DonAirey #Aerosmith #Winger #MotleyCru #WhiteLion #Exodus #DeepPurple #JudasPriest #OzzyOsbourne #Rainbow #RayDavies #TheKinks #Kvelertak #Sunburst #Queen #AxelRudiPell #RobinTrower #Candy #Intranced

#TheMetalDogArticleList
#BraveWords
Today In Metal History 🤘 June 21st, 2024🤘DON AIREY, AEROSMITH, WINGER, MÖTLEY CRÜE, WHITE LION, EXODUS
Heavy Birthdays 80th Ray Davies (THE KINKS) - 1944 THE KINKS have sold over 50 million albums worldwide. .

https://bravewords.com/news/today-in-metal-history-june-21st-2024don-airey-aerosmith-winger-motley-crue-white-lion-exodus

#DonAirey #Aerosmith #Winger #MotleyCru #WhiteLion #Exodus #DeepPurple #JudasPriest #OzzyOsbourne #Rainbow #RayDavies #TheKinks #Kvelertak #Sunburst #Queen #AxelRudiPell #RobinTrower #Candy #Intranced

#TheMetalDogArticleList
#BraveWords
Today In Metal History 🤘 June 21st, 2024🤘DON AIREY, AEROSMITH, WINGER, MÖTLEY CRÜE, WHITE LION, EXODUS
Heavy Birthdays 80th Ray Davies (THE KINKS) - 1944 THE KINKS have sold over 50 million albums worldwide. .

https://bravewords.com/news/today-in-metal-history-june-21st-2024don-airey-aerosmith-winger-motley-crue-white-lion-exodus

#DonAirey #Aerosmith #Winger #MotleyCru #WhiteLion #Exodus #DeepPurple #JudasPriest #OzzyOsbourne #Rainbow #RayDavies #TheKinks #Kvelertak #Sunburst #Queen #AxelRudiPell #RobinTrower #Candy #Intranced

[MAJ] Motocultor 2024 : le running order définitif et une dernière grosse surprise à l’affiche https://www.lagrosseradio.com/webzine-metal/p162974-motocultor-2024-de-nouveaux-noms-a-laffiche/ #emmaruthrundle #infectedrain #webzinemetal #architects #motocultor #actumetal #avantasia #kvelertak #meshuggah #bobvylan #festival #clutch #igorrr #jinjer #myrkur #t:2024 #metal #opeth

#TheMetalDogArticleList
#MetalInjection
Ex-KVELERTAK Vocalist ERLEND HJELVIK Guests On New WORMWITCH Track
For maximum savage-ness.

https://metalinjection.net/new-music/ex-kvelertak-vocalist-erlend-hjelvik-guests-on-new-wormwitch-track

#wormwitch #Kvelertak #ErlendHJELVIK

I said it before, but at least for me, #Motörhead and #Kvelertak are a match made in heaven. Or hell. Hell probably. 🤔

🎵 Dendrofil for Yggdrasil by Kvelertak
https://song.link/y/SrJXb8Lh-Pg

#TomsMusic

#TheMetalDogArticleList
#MetalSucks
11 Black Metal Songs to Kill the Holiday Spirit

https://www.metalsucks.net/2023/12/18/11-black-metal-songs-to-kill-the-holiday-spirit/

#BlackMetal
#KillTheHolidaySpirit
#MetalSucks
#11Songs
#Kvelertak
#Solstafir
#Batushka
#Funebrarum
#Bosse-de-Nage
#KLone
#TheGreatOldOnes
#Interment

#TheMetalDogArticleList
#MetalSucks
11 Black Metal Songs to Kill the Holiday Spirit

https://www.metalsucks.net/2023/12/18/11-black-metal-songs-to-kill-the-holiday-spirit/

#BlackMetal
#KillTheHolidaySpirit
#MetalSucks
#11Songs
#Kvelertak
#Solstafir
#Batushka
#Funebrarum
#Bosse-de-Nage
#KLone
#TheGreatOldOnes
#Interment

#TheMetalDogArticleList
#MetalSucks
11 Black Metal Songs to Kill the Holiday Spirit

https://www.metalsucks.net/2023/12/18/11-black-metal-songs-to-kill-the-holiday-spirit/

#BlackMetal
#KillTheHolidaySpirit
#MetalSucks
#11Songs
#Kvelertak
#Solstafir
#Batushka
#Funebrarum
#Bosse-de-Nage
#KLone
#TheGreatOldOnes
#Interment

#TheMetalDogArticleList
#MetalSucks
11 Black Metal Songs to Kill the Holiday Spirit

https://www.metalsucks.net/2023/12/18/11-black-metal-songs-to-kill-the-holiday-spirit/

#BlackMetal
#KillTheHolidaySpirit
#MetalSucks
#11Songs
#Kvelertak
#Solstafir
#Batushka
#Funebrarum
#Bosse-de-Nage
#KLone
#TheGreatOldOnes
#Interment

✨ #AlbumOddTheYear2023 ✨

Today @t4s provided a great category:

Favorite album in a foreign language that you don't speak or understand.

That's an easy one for me. My award goes to...

🏆 Kvelertak - Endling 🇳🇴

https://album.link/at/i/1677813046

#Kvelertak #Endling

Just before I start into the weeked, here's some updates to my Album Of The Year list:

added:
2 great albums (#Kvelertak, #Omnivortex )
1 good album (#Primordial)
2 solid ones which I'll probably listen to again (#KKsPriest, #TesseracT )
2 solid ones that didn't really click, but are appreciated (#Girlschool, #Baroness).

What's on your list?

#TomsAOTY2023 #AOTY

#TheMetalDogArticleList
#MetalInjection
KVELERTAK Streams Their New Short Film "Morild"
Get the popcorn out, because this is fantastic

https://metalinjection.net/video/kvelertak-streams-their-new-short-film-morild

#Kvelertak
#Morild
#ShortFilm
#ExclusiveStream
#MetalInjection
#DiveIntoTheStory
#BrutalRiffs
#ChangeYourPerception
#IntenseCinematography
#BestVideoOfTheYear
#ProgressiveMetal
#SymphonicMetal
#MasterpieceByKvelertak

Damn lots of good music (I didn't listen to yet) came out recently:

#SignOfThingsToCome by #Sylosis: https://songwhip.com/sylosis/a-sign-of-things-to-come

#PlayingRobotsIntoHeaven by #JamesBlake: https://songwhip.com/james-blake/playing-robots-into-heaven

#Granica by #TheHirschEffekt: https://songwhip.com/the-hirsch-effekt/granica

#TheLow by #ForestSwords: https://songwhip.com/forest-swords/thelow

#Endling by #Kvelertak: https://songwhip.com/kvelertak/endling-3

When am I supposed to listen to all this 😭

#NewMusic #NewMusicFriday #Metal #Rock #Pop

#TheMetalDogArticleList
#MetalInjection
THE WEEKLY INJECTION: New Releases From KVELERTAK, DYING FETUS & More Out Today 9/8
Plus releases from Conquer Divide, Cryptopsy, Pomegranate Tiger, Sylosis, and Uada.

https://metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/heavy-new-releases/the-weekly-injection-new-releases-from-kvelertak-dying-fetus-more-out-today-9-8

#Kvelertak #DyingFetus #HeavyNewReleases #MusicalMasterpiece #PowerhouseVocals #ThrashMetalClassic #LoudAndHeavy #DeathMetalClassic #GroovinHeavyMetal #ThrashItUp #HeavyMetalFrenzy #R

#Release #Freitag! Gleich vier neue Alben präsentiert mir #Spotify heute:

#Kvelertak: Endling
#Azaghal: Mustamaa
#Sielunvihollinen: Helvetinkone
#Uada: Crepuscule Natura

Ich weiß schon, was heute im Büro läuft.

#metal #blackmetal #blacknroll #hardcorepunk