Parts of the Dutch black metal scene are undergoing a significant transformation right now, as artists continue to channel influences from outside of metal and shift them into new and exciting forms. Where a lot of the more prominent acts started off on the rawer or atmospheric side of the spectrum, often emphasizing repetitive and hypnotic riffing, in recent years we’ve heard drastically different things. Fluisteraars went fully into ambient on their newest effort, Solar Temple’s evolved into a sprawling psychedelic and experimental rock vehicle, and Laster stripped away their harsh vocals in favor of something even more alien. This brings us to Vuur & Zijde, a much less prominent group, but one that has also gone through their own transformation. In 2020 the trio debuted with three songs on a split with Impavida, showcasing a similar take on hypnotic and dense black metal as some of their peers but hinting at even more to come. Since then they’ve expanded to a five-piece and broadened their sound significantly on debut full-length Boezem, bringing post-punk and gothic elements into a black metal framework. There’s a similar mystique and playfulness to the material that’s reminiscent of what some of the members have also done in Laster, but Vuur & Zijde presents it in a way that still feels wholly unique.
Where some of their peers have almost completely stripped away their black metal roots on recent albums, Vuur & Zijde hasn’t done a full shift and instead has fully integrated their other influences into this hypnotic and pummeling foundation. Songs like “Nest” are just as aggressive as anything from their split with blasting drums and dense, prominent basslines, but even during these moments there’s a mystical, dreamlike quality to the guitar leads. Even these more traditional leaning sections don’t stay in one place for long, as before you know it the harshness has faded away on “Nest” and you’re left with moodier riffs and danceable rhythms for a period of time. There’s a lot of post punk here, particularly on “Zusterzon”, “Omheind”, and “Adem”, as the black metal is interspersed with colder melodies and a bouncier, playful tone to the instrumentals. Similar to the most recent Laster album, I hear a lot of Killing Joke and Dead Can Dance here, but where that group took things in a more alien and detached direction Vuur & Zijde presents things in a more direct and magical one. It’s a direction that works to their advantage, and there are so many specific sections that have kept me hitting the repeat button to hear them all over again since the first time through. Whether that’s the softer, moodier melodies of “Kuier” or the almost Jesu shoegaze and industrial pulse of “II”, every song offers something to hook the listener and showcases just how well the group can bring the sheer force of black metal together with these softer and warmer textures. It also helps that the production values have seen a big boost since the split, allowing the blasting to hit hard while also giving space for the melodies to expand into lush soundscapes.
One of the standout elements of Vuur & Zijde was the vocal work of Famke, as rather than utilizing the standard shrieks and screams of a band like Turia or other Dutch black metal act the vocals remained entirely on the clean side. This remains the case on Boezem and goes a long way in separating the band apart from so many of the others out there. Famke’s vocals have a more somber and wistful tone that hovers above the recording with a presence that grabs your attention right from the beginning, and even with the language barrier I found myself drawn to each verse. Stylistically the pitch is somewhere between post punk, goth, and even alternative rock, but there are natural ebbs and flows to the performance that keeps things interesting. On “Kuier” there is a slight break where some spoken word (presumably from another band member) is thrown into the mix, but for most of Boezem Famke has the spotlight and she makes the most of it.
Ever since the 2020 split I’ve been anxiously awaiting how Vuur & Zijde would progress, and they’ve blown away all my expectations. They’ve taken the hypnotic and powerful foundation of atmospheric black metal and injected gothic, post punk, shoegaze, and everything in between in ways that create something fresh. There’s a wide range of emotions to this material, as sometimes it has a more somber and reflective tone while others have a rage filled or even playful feel, giving listeners plenty to dive into. Combine that with the stunning cover art and you have another incredible album of the year candidate, courtesy of Prophecy Productions.
-Review by Chris Dahlberg