While I appreciate plenty of metal labels that try and cover as many sub-genres within their rosters as they can, it’s always nice to have ones that excel at a particular niche. In Bindrune Recordings’ case, you usually know you’re getting atmospheric black metal or material that channels a similar tone, though each band on their roster achieves this in a fairly different way. This holds true for one of their most recent signings, Minnesota’s Tvær, who emphasize equal amounts of rawness and sweeping atmosphere on their debut Uvaer. Although there is room for the group to further refine their sound and push outwards into their own space, this is still a strong debut that will draw plenty of listeners in.
Tvær has released a few demos and an EP since forming in 2017, so this has given them plenty of time to refine their approach. What drew me in initially to Uvaer was how it seemed to lean equally into the Norwegian and American variants of black metal that have developed since the 90s. Four of the five songs sprawl outwards towards eight and nine minutes in length, and the instrumentals do move from softer ambiance to a raging inferno of fast paced and harsh riffs that have a significant amount of bite to them. While that might not sound that different from many of the other black metal bands that have been branded with the atmospheric or Cascadian tags, Tvær does throw in some more straightforward attacks that bring some of that second-wave energy and rock edged rhythms alongside the methodical blasting. However, while the songs do have their fair share of twists and turns with an acoustic guitar interlude or unexpected synth moment, I did find that the first three followed patterns that came off a little too similar. “IV” is where the band seems to shake things up even further and starts to diverge in both their vocal and instrumental approach, with “V” closing things on a much softer and almost mystical sounding acoustic piece.
The vocals on Uvaer start off at their most abrasive level and transition towards some cleaner ranges as the album progresses. You’re initially greeted with high pitched screams and shrieks that hang over the recording with a ghastly presence, and the extremity and abrasiveness of the pitch is where Tvær reminds me of many of the US black metal bands from the 90s. As mentioned in the last paragraph, once you reach “IV” things start to shift a bit and there are some chants and singing that are used in between the ear-piercing screams. It’s a small touch, but it changes the tone significantly and makes that particular track even more haunting.
Tvær’s debut is an intense listen from start to finish that captures the sprawling dissonance and soaring atmosphere of some of the US variants of black metal while still channeling some of the straightforward fire and grit of the second wave. Although some of the songs do blend together a bit and the band seems to branch out the most towards the end, the pummeling and eerie nature of this release still make it worth returning to. It lays a solid foundation that makes this group one to watch for in the coming years, as with a bit more growth and variation on their approach they could become a truly powerful force in the genre. Uvaer is available from Bindrune Recordings.
-Review by Chris Dahlberg
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