top of page

MEDIA

ALBUMS

EMBODIED IN INCENSE 2016

Media

The second full-length from Slovenian black metal horde Cvinger offers another solid slab of pristine, chaotic-sounding old-school black metal to make it two solid epics in a row following their great debut. Offering frantic and brimstone scented tremolo riffing which nicely echoes the traditional second-wave acts in the mid-90s, there’s a bouncy and enjoyable up-tempo feel to the music here that contains a vicious old-school streak to their rhythms. As well, there’s the ability to meld those swirling tremolo riff-works alongside a more pronounced and chaotic series of frenzied drum-blasts that adds a blast-heavy approach to the music in conjunction with the more intense and blistering riff-work, and they stand out all the more so on the album against the moody atmospherics featured in the lone slow, churning epic offering up some stylish variety. This alone makes it a rather strong and enjoyable enough effort to really make a strong impression here if only it didn’t rely so heavily on the use of short droning industrial interludes so often here, as there’s three of them spread out to open, close and partway through the album as a breather of sorts to set up the second half. It’s odd that this placement occurs here as it does interrupt the flow of the record where it’s just getting interesting and then breaks off into the brief, under-a-minute set-up before going through several more tracks and then back into a droning finale which is a little off-putting, yet as a tactic that was repeated from their debut it does have a minor pass associated with it going through the motions.

The first half here gets this going nicely. Set-up instrumental intro ‘Chapter 1: Conjuration of the Dead God’ uses a deep chanting speech with churning samples to set the stage for proper first track ‘Psalm, of a Hollow Man’ which features tight, ravenous swirling rhythms and utterly dexterous and blasting drumming over the traditional-sounding arrangements from the tremolo-styled rhythms that run through the fast, frantic tempos firing through the frantic blast beats into the churning final half gets this off to a solid start. ‘Beheading the Desert Prophet’ uses immediate blasting drumming alongside the dynamic riffing with plenty of churning up-tempo patterns to the swirling rhythms that sweep along to the mid-tempo churning tremolo patterns throughout the blasting finale for another strong effort overall. ‘Enchanted Conclave’ starts with tight, churning riff-work and blasting drumming that turns into a frenzied up-tempo blast of swirling tremolo patterns and intense leads that work along through a series of mid-tempo sprawling sections that blast back into the frenzied rhythms in the blasting finale for a wholly enjoyable highlight. ‘Weak to the Gallows’ uses a steady, slow build-up with gradual drumming and a steady churning series of riffing that holds the darkened atmosphere nicely alongside the switchover into the frenzied blasting with plenty of furious drumming and tremolo patterns on through the final half for a decent enough effort against the more explosive other efforts.

The second half is a little weaker with the interludes but still has a lot to like. Mid-album instrumental breather ‘Chapter 2: Eye Carved upon the Serpents Stone’ features dark rumbling noise and sampled screeching effects leading into the next track ‘Martyr Shrine’ bleeding through with the tight tremolo-picked rhythms and frantic blasting drumming with plenty of fiery rhythms charging along through the blasting atmospherics as the pounding drumming holds the steady tremolo pattern leads flowing through the finale for a strong highlight effort. ‘Infinity of the Black Flame’ features a slow-building series of churning riff-work and blasting drumming that weaves along through a sprawling series of plodding atmospheric rhythms before churning back through the blasting drumming and frantic mid-tempo tremolo riffing for the final half in another somewhat decent enough effort. The title track slowly works through rattling rhythms and tight clanking drumming that keeps the mid-tempo rhythms along through the frenzied riff-work as the feverish rhythms and choppy drumming weave alongside the buzzing riffing into the finale for a strong highlight. Lastly, the instrumental outro ‘Chapter 3: Amen III’ uses sampled crackling fire sounds and unearthly groaning against the backdrop of droning noises which isn’t that bad of a final track but just sticks out even more here with all the other interlude tracks here which aren’t all that bad of a lasting impression.

Though there’s a minor problem to be had with the album’s structure with all the brief instrumental interludes holding up the pacing, there’s still more than enough blasting chaos and frenetic bombastic on display to really make this a hearty choice for those looking for more second-wave styled black metal or are just fans of the style in general.

Cvinger is a Slovenian black metal group that formed in 2012. The band dropped both their debut demo, Abyss of Horns, and their first EP, Monastery of Fallen, in 2013. They went through some lineup changes in the early part of 2014 before recording their debut full-length album, The Enthronement ov Diabolical Souls, which was released independently in December of 2014. The addition of a fresh rhythm section, Morgoth on drums and Obscurum on bass, shows a band surging forth, hungry to leave their mark.

The band’s debut EP was a rather by-the-numbers affair of second-wave worship with some atmospheric touches thrown around, so The Enthronement ov Diabolical Souls really comes in as a surprise. Cvinger ditched the raw, grainy sound of the EP for a thicker, more professional production job; one that actually highlights their strengths, rather than playing to their weakness. Despite the increased intensity, not a lot has changed with the band’s sound since their last outing; second wave influenced black metal with a dark and misanthropic feel, which is stark contrast to the tired and aged feel of Monastery of Fallen. Raging trem riffing, blasting drums and deep, vitriolic snarls make up a majority of the album, sounding similar to modern day Marduk or Ragnarok.

The Enthronement ov Diabolical Souls still brings a few atmospheric breaks, in the form of three short tracks featuring nothing but chanting, but they keep it short and poignant rather than dwelling for too long. The remainder of the album shows off the bands penchant for blasting black metal. Cvinger’s assault is far more assertive this time around, with practically non-stop blasts and double bass runs and twisting, malformed trem runs with short melodic following licks. Once the last echoes of the intro fade, “Anno Inferni”fires away and it’s pretty much cruise control for the remainder of the album. Only a few portions seem truly forces, like the chorus of “Eikmus Manifestation”, as the blasts and fast paced trem riffs don’t mesh up as well as they could.

Cvinger’s debut is on whole different level than their earlier work. The band was finally able to marry the dark and abrasive atmosphere with the blasting, misanthropic music. The Enthronement ov Diabolical Souls should find a welcome home among the works of 1349, Marduk and Tsjuder. While the music still lives and breathes the second wave, Cvinger’s music no longer feels like paint-by-numbers black metal. Intense, blasting, and dark; this Slovenian four piece has finally found their sound.

Written for The Metal Observer.

THE ENTHRONEMENT OV DIABOLICAL SOULS 2014

​

Cvinger-logo-10-x10-cm_edited.png

LATEST MUSIC VIDEOS

crnobog logo bel spletna_edited.png

PHOTOS

bottom of page