black metal / doom
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Well, it looks like black metal just got a little blacker. Not that long ago, scientists discovered a color darker than black, and now there are bands who created the music to fit with that new color. It's actually quite an interesting comparison. The first wave of black metal represents dark grey, dusk-like. The second wave plunged the whole thing into pitch blackness and the third one, the most recent one, delves deeper into darkness than ever before.
Swedish quintet Seedna certainly belong to that third wave, taking black metal as a foundation for their harsh and gloomy sound. Yet, it doesn't feel like their main goal is to create black metal. This genre simply seems to be one of the many influences for the band, one of many possibilities to express their darkest emotions, their fears, their frustrations or whatever comes their way. The need to create narrative and emotive music is far bigger than clinging onto one style, which is a good thing.
The album opens with soundscapes, an intro, so to speak, before the massive 'Wander' starts playing. This twenty-plus minutes lasting anthem clearly shows what Seedna stands for: a well written and well varied blend of black metal, post-rock/metal, doom and ambient soundscapes. Even though there are many different passages, the overall sound remains haunting and eerie and, obviously, pitch black.
From then on, the album continues alternating harsh, grinding passages of extreme music with impending interludes. 'Frozen' is another one of those massive beasts, which seem to combine the music of bands like Dimmu Borgir with Woods Of Ypres, Alcest and Cult Of Luna. It's a highly immersive blend of music, that's for sure. Besides, there is a great deal of growing insanity in this music.
Between you and me, I'm afraid my personal favorite on this album is the drone-ambient track 'Eternal'. I know some people might see these tunes as mere interludes but they are way more than that. They add a lot to the conceptual feel of the whole thing, even though every single track can perfectly stand on its own. It needs talent to reach that quality and I'm very sure that there's plenty of talent in this band.
So yep, you should check this out, not because you're a fan of black metal, not because you're a post-metalhead, not because you're a doomster, but simply because this is a great amalgamation of styles, built around one strong concept. For Seedna, it's now time to start booking a European tour and get this stuff on the road. I'm sure audiences will be ecstatic when they play these songs live...
Serge
Swedish quintet Seedna certainly belong to that third wave, taking black metal as a foundation for their harsh and gloomy sound. Yet, it doesn't feel like their main goal is to create black metal. This genre simply seems to be one of the many influences for the band, one of many possibilities to express their darkest emotions, their fears, their frustrations or whatever comes their way. The need to create narrative and emotive music is far bigger than clinging onto one style, which is a good thing.
The album opens with soundscapes, an intro, so to speak, before the massive 'Wander' starts playing. This twenty-plus minutes lasting anthem clearly shows what Seedna stands for: a well written and well varied blend of black metal, post-rock/metal, doom and ambient soundscapes. Even though there are many different passages, the overall sound remains haunting and eerie and, obviously, pitch black.
From then on, the album continues alternating harsh, grinding passages of extreme music with impending interludes. 'Frozen' is another one of those massive beasts, which seem to combine the music of bands like Dimmu Borgir with Woods Of Ypres, Alcest and Cult Of Luna. It's a highly immersive blend of music, that's for sure. Besides, there is a great deal of growing insanity in this music.
Between you and me, I'm afraid my personal favorite on this album is the drone-ambient track 'Eternal'. I know some people might see these tunes as mere interludes but they are way more than that. They add a lot to the conceptual feel of the whole thing, even though every single track can perfectly stand on its own. It needs talent to reach that quality and I'm very sure that there's plenty of talent in this band.
So yep, you should check this out, not because you're a fan of black metal, not because you're a post-metalhead, not because you're a doomster, but simply because this is a great amalgamation of styles, built around one strong concept. For Seedna, it's now time to start booking a European tour and get this stuff on the road. I'm sure audiences will be ecstatic when they play these songs live...
Serge
