The personal struggle of Sweden’s Dödsrit continues with their hymns of devotion and suffering on their third release Nocturnal Will and album that personifies their existence and visceral energy.
From the opening salvo of ‘’ Irjala’’ Dödsrit deliver intense melodic black metal that is infused with a tremendous sense of energy and purpose. The twin guitars soar whilst the rhythm section drives what was a solo act into a coherent band with extraordinary focus and determination. The potency and musicianship are evident across all six tracks including two instrumentals, the brief Ember and Ash and the quite epic ‘’Utmed Gyllbergens stig’’ with its gradual crescendo that carries all the hallmarks of not only fantastic melodic black metal but true unfiltered Metal that is memorable defiant and rousing.
‘’ As Death Comes Reaping’’ is ten-plus minutes of harrowing intensity that’s is as memorable as it is haunting, the simpler moments pure black metal power and fierce commitment, and the intricacy of the guitar work is astonishing along with the confidence to dive from melody into rapid 2/4 punishing unforgiving attack, the subtleties are brief and the atmosphere a natural result of the intensity bought about by the natural progression of the music, its final minutes as powerful as anything you may have heard before, the Swedish heritage is true and loyal, Dissection and Bathory inflections create a sense of majesty amongst the turmoil, its coda a beautiful fade into oblivion.
The Scandinavian prowess has never been more profound. Dödsrit may have been an unknown quantity until now but Nocturnal Will is a defining moment that heralds the true arrival of their atmospheric black metal that is as bleak as it is rewarding. Intricate yet also immediate, there are brief rays of light amongst the darkness that is superbly crafted and excellently executed. Highly recommended!
Dödsrit: Facebook
Release Year: 2024
Label: Wolves of Hades
Category: Album
Country: Sweden/Netherlands
Reviewed by Sparky
