When I received the CD, I have to admit that I liked the cover; and I was hopeful after having read the band's statement on the back of the CD, which says "_Helfärd_ is dedicated to the spirit that existed back in the '90s when Black Metal actually meant something". Since I've been a fan of black metal since 1992, this statement actually meant something to me. Well, at first anyways. After listening to the EP for six or seven times, things just get sort of monotonous. While the riffs are just OK in places (the repetitive riff in the last song is the best), the drumming is really one-dimensional; there's just nothing to keep my jaded attention here. Yes, I know, old-school black metal isn't supposed to feature flashy drums of any sort -- I understand. However, at least at add some fills here and there to keep things a little more interesting. Or, at the very least, write some killer riffs to offset the plain drumming (a la old Darkthrone).

If you're a die-hard fan of no-frills black metal played with a '90s flare, then check out Grá. As you've gleaned from the review thus far, though, if you're looking for something a little different, then just keep walking.