Since 2009 Djevel has established itself as one of the primary acts in the Norwegian black metal scene. The seventh offering “Tanker Som Rir Natten” from the trio Trond Ciekals (guitars, and vocals), Kvitrim (bass guitar and vocals), and Faust (drums) conveys highly ingenious methods of crafting songs in the classic vein of the second wave of black metal. Taking inspiration from institutional bands such as Darkthrone, Satyricon, Ulver, and Carpathian Forest, Djevel has set up its own trademark from the peers. With every studio album, they have captured the raw tonality of abrasive riffs and gripping melodies, and simultaneously evolved into proverbial musicians. The new album contains six lengthy epic tracks that prove the in-depth understanding of their majestic art.

From the opening track “Englene som falt ned i min seng, skal jeg sette fri med brukne vinger og torneglorier” the abrasive tone of the guitars builds on mid-tempo pace. The subtle interplay of the rhythm guitars, melodies, and chants are impressively displayed. Faust’s unmatched drumming skills bring another strong aspect to the song while the melodic textures are in manifold. Here the guitar sections contain plenty of acoustic interludes within the tracks. The effect of the tremolo picked-riffs is absolutely mesmerizing and spellbinding, and creates a cold and grim atmosphere that flows with the raw guitar riffing. 

Djevel once again has pushed the boundaries of their craft in an artistic manner. “Tanker Som Rir Natten” sprawls over the hallmarks of the Norwegian black metal. The gentle breeze of the guitar melodies and captivating rhythm on “Maanen skal være mine øine, den skinnende stierne mine ben, og her skal jeg vandre til evig tid” flawlessly cascade. The vocal chants contrast to the sprawling tremolos, with the abrasive element of the guitars creating epic landscapes and awe-inspiring riffs, which are perfectly crafted. The songs are quite immersive and have some breathtaking moments. “Tanker Som Rir Natten” shines through complex guitar arrangements that are rooted in the Norwegian tradition. While the song compositions reflects on the range of the guitar melodies, the drums move on from fast to mid-tempo.

“En krone for et øie som ser alt, tusind torner for en sønn som var alt” thrives on slow riffing. The track features various styles of guitar riffing and this explains the rich musical aesthetics of the band. For instance, the musical setting of the tremolos creates a gloomy texture with the dark atmosphere of the keyboards and acoustic guitars combined to create a majestic feeling throughout the album duration. As in whole, the newest album encapsulates the somber and atmospheric tone of their music, the album title track “Tanker Som Rir Natten” has the chilling peaceful atmosphere of clarity.

“Naar maanen formørker solen i en dødelig dans, ber jeg moder jord opp til en siste vals” opens with cold depressive riffs where the emphasis is laid upon the rhythmic tone of the guitars and drums. The melodic patterns and instrumentation provide depth to the song where the riffs swirl perpetually in the Nordic style of black metal. The guitar segment and drums are well balanced. Even when the song shifts to the heaviest moments, the overall tone echoes of slow atmospheric black metal perfection. Combining raw elements and characteristics of bands such as Ulver and Satyricon, the track contains lots of tempo changes resulting in a unique and dramatic increase of cold melodies that are imbued with dark and melancholic textures.

“Tanker Som Rir Natten” is an epic album that invokes the impression of the cold misty nature of the Norwegian woodlands. The atmospheric spectacle streams through the cold chilling flurry of tremolo-picked-riffs. Closing with a colossal twelve minutes cut, “Vinger som tok oss over en brennende himmel, vinger som tok oss hjem”, the guitars capture the grim majesty of the Scandinavian black metal and build on folky acoustic passages and abrasive swirls of the guitars that serve as a backdrop for this epic song. Djevel encapsulates many acoustic guitar passages where they gently move with the clean vocals and the raspy growls.

On the newest album, Djevel ascends to towering heights. “Tanker Som Rir Natten” is nothing short of wonderful as it conjures vast elements of the second wave of black metal. This goes as the highest recommendation for fans of Satyricon, Taake, and Ulver. 

Release Date: May 14th, 2021
Label: Aftermath Music
Track list:

1. Englene som falt ned i min seng, skal jeg sette fri med brukne vinger og torneglorier
2. Maanen skal være mine øine, den skinnende stierne mine ben, og her skal jeg vandre til evig tid
3. En krone for et øie som ser alt, tusind torner for en sønn som var alt
4. Tanker som Rir Natten
5. Naar maanen formørker solen i en dødelig dans, ber jeg moder jord opp til en siste vals
6. Vinger som tok oss over en brennende himmel, vinger som tok oss hjem