CoC : Solhverv - Tagernes Artusinde : Review

Solhverv - _Tagernes Artusinde_
(Euphonious, 1996)
by: Adam Wasylyk (7 out of 10)

Fans of black metal are familiar with the many popular (and some not-so-talented) bands from Norway and Sweden. Well, here's one from Denmark that deserves your attention. Solhverv (formerly "Fallen Angel" and "Helhejm") have based their black metal on Danish tales and myths of ancient warfare, runic stones, sacrifices to gods, etc etc etc. Don't count on this to be fascinating reading material unless you can read Danish, so you'll have to take their word for it. Focusing on the music, at times it's played at a supersonic speed while at other times slowing down to inject some keyboard melody or menacing screams. The tracks are lengthy but there is quality to the music being played. The vocals have an echo on them and aren't the shrilly/screechy variety that can be found in other bands. It's hard to come up with a comparison, Enslaved came into my mind but Solhverv definitely don't emulate them. Keyboards are rare, instead they successfully rely on their guitars to set the mood. Black metal fans I'm sure will like what they hear on _Tagernes Artusinde_. With this only their debut album, Solhverv have a bright future ahead of them.

Contact: SOLHVERV, c/o Euphonious Records

(article published 16/3/1997)