Though Khold originally formed in 2000 following the disbandment of Tulus, we’re currently in a time period where both bands are operating at full capacity and when you add Sarke into the mix there’s plenty for fans of Norwegian black metal and black metal adjacent material to enjoy. Tulus broke an eight-year silence with 2020’s Old Old Death which stripped things down as much as possible and focused on mid-tempo grooves and harsher riffing. 2022 finds Khold now breaking a similar extended period of silence, as Svartsyn follows 2014’s Til endes and strives to capture the essence of the band’s sound with slower, deliberate grooves that blend rock ‘n roll swagger and colder atmosphere. While the lines between Khold and Tulus remain blurred, the amount of variety and simple yet hook filled moments work to Svartsyn’sadvantage.
Khold has spent much of their discography focused on mid-tempo and slower black metal that emphasized simple yet effective riffs and a healthy dose of rock ‘n roll groove and swagger balanced with blasting. While some of this led to albums that blended together a bit and didn’t always stand out from a song-to-song basis, when they nailed that atmosphere and crunchier tone it often provided plenty of reasons to come back. That remains true two decades later on Svartsyn, but there’s a bit more variety and tweaks to the formula than I was initially expecting. You’ve still got plenty of catchy mid-tempo grooves and jagged guitar and bass work that feels like it could’ve been ripped out of that second-wave period of the 90s, but there are more individual riffs that stand out on their own and the way that Khold changes tempos gives more songs their own identity. The core sound is a black ‘n roll groove, where the tonality is still ice cold but the rhythm will make you want to tap your feet, and songs like “Evig” and “Dystopi” continue to show just how well the band can do this. But you’ve also got slower pieces where thicker bass lines and eerier tonality set in, as well as “Manngard” where Khold goes full-on blast beat and strikes right at the heart of that second-wave sound. Compared to the most recent Tulus album it’s a bit more aggressive and in your face, and the songwriting stands out a bit more on a moment-to-moment basis. There are still a few issues though, as the two slower pieces that run past the five-minute mark drag significantly and the placement of one of these (“Bryt i udåd ut”) at the end makes the album fade out rather than end with a bang like I was hoping.
Gard’s vocal work has been an element of both bands that stood out in the past, and this continues to be the case throughout Svartsyn. Right from the beginning of “Apostel” you’re met with a raspy scream that is sure to feel familiar for fans of Norwegian black metal whether they’re familiar with Khold or not, but there’s a swagger and rhythmic cadence to the performance that perfectly suits the instrumentation. No matter where the rest of the band goes, Gard has this commanding presence that seems to tear through your speakers and grab you by the throat and this is most noticeable during the slowest, melodic moments. As the abrasive tones of the guitar start to fade the vocals remain just as sharp and precise, and it’s clear that despite their two decades of existence Khold’s approach hasn’t dulled at all.
Even though the wait between albums was lengthy, it feels like both Khold and Tulus are firing on all cylinders right now. Khold’s retained their core black ‘n roll approach but the songwriting feels more diverse and refined, offering simple yet effective hooks while switching tempos and styles where it makes sense. There are still some moments that drag when things slow down too much, but this is a welcome addition to their discography and expect to get additional mileage out of it in the coming months. Svartsyn is available from Soulseller Records.
-Review by Chris Dahlberg
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