As 2024 comes to a mighty cold end, I cannot think of a better way to close it out than with Svarttjern’s sixth offering of Norwegian based blasphemy and most absorbing album in some time. Fresh off of Soulseller Records, ‘Draw Blood’ pillages your speakers and hits you like a beer bottle full of goat blood with their signature style of abrasive, uncompromising Black Metal.
Though some might argue they have strayed from their roots, Svarttjern have embraced a more Black ‘n’ Roll approach for ‘Draw Blood’, think if Immortal recorded an album with Testament. Many of the ‘TNBM’ heads will probably write this album off but I commend Svarttjern for experimenting with melody and offering something new while still sticking to their roots. It just goes to show their ability to reinterpret influences beyond Metal, case and point being their version of Rolling Stone’s ‘Under My Thumb.’ Sometimes you just want headbangin’, beer drinkin’ music in the spirit of old and this album is it. Skål!
