HJEMSØKT‘s debut album, “Om Vinteren, På En Sort Trone,” is a frosty, relentless homage to the classic Norwegian black metal of the early 1990s. Everything about this release screams dedication to the genre’s raw, uncompromising roots. From the cold, icy riffs to the relentless drumming and the bleak, evocative atmosphere that permeates every track.

The duo of Peregrinus (guitar, bass, synths) and Letaliis (vocals, lyrics) is joined by M.W. on drums to form a unit that clearly understands the black metal ethos. This isn’t just music; it’s a conjuring of ancient energies, a rejection of modernity, and an invocation of frostbitten landscapes. From the very first notes of “Døden Hersker Blandt Fjord & Fjell”, it’s clear that HJEMSØKT is on a mission to capture the essence of black metal’s golden era.

The production here is deliberately raw, staying true to the genre’s roots without descending into lo-fi murkiness. This careful balance ensures the atmosphere remains suffocatingly cold, yet the individual instruments still cut through the mix. Peregrinus’s guitars are a torrent of icy, tremolo-picked riffs that stack upon each other, building an atmosphere that is both melancholic and feral. Tracks like “Forhekset Av En Blek & Ensom Måne” deliver a berserker intensity that recalls early Satyricon or Taake, while the title track, “Om Vinteren, På En Sort Trone,” adds layers of spectral synth to create an even more immersive experience.

Letaliis’s vocals are a standout feature, a venomous rasp that cuts through the instrumentation like a blizzard wind. His lyrical themes — steeped in imagery of death, winter, and pagan mysticism — are delivered with a conviction that is essential to this kind of black metal. When he snarls through “Uendelige Skogskledde Drømmer,” you can almost feel the weight of endless, snow-covered forests closing in.

The drumming by M.W. adds a dynamic edge to the album, providing not just relentless blast beats but also well-timed shifts in tempo that keep the tracks engaging. This is particularly evident in “Skogen & Tjernet,” where the pacing alternates between furious assaults and more deliberate, crushing passages. This variation prevents the album from feeling monotonous and gives it a depth that many black metal releases lack.

One of the album’s strengths is its ability to evoke a sense of place. You’re not just listening to music; you’re transported to a world of fjords, forests, and moonlit mountains. The atmosphere is palpable, especially in tracks like “Vinterkveld I Trollfjell”, which closes the album on a haunting note with its mournful melodies and chilling ambience.

If there’s a critique to be made, it’s that HJEMSØKT sticks very closely to the established black metal formula. This isn’t an album that breaks new ground, but that’s not the point. “Om Vinteren, På En Sort Trone” is a celebration of black metal’s core principles, and it executes them flawlessly. For purists who long for the days when black metal was all about raw emotion, pagan themes, and unfiltered aggression, this album is a gift.

In short, HJEMSØKT has delivered a debut that is as cold, raw, and true as it gets. A stunningly authentic blast of classic black metal.

Rating: 9/10
Release Date: November 16^th, 2024
Label: Purity Through Fire

Writer: Andy Baqone

Tracklist:

1. Døden Hersker Blandt Fjord & Fjell
2. Uendelige Skogskledde Drømmer
3. Forhekset Av En Blek & Ensom Måne
4. Om Vinteren, På En Sort Trone
5. Dødens Øyne
6. Skogen & Tjernet
7. Pestas Omfavnelse
8. Vinterkveld I Trollfjell