Gehenna, Mayhem, Sargeist, Horna, Tsjuder, Nordjevel and Aosoth: it’s just a fraction of the impressive resume of bands that the members of Doedsvangr have been involved. More often than not, creating a super star ensemble leads to rather mediocre results, but credit where it’s due, Doedsvangr released a rather strong sophomore album with ‘Serpents ov Old’. In the five years that followed, the band dipped their toes in the live scene and released an EP in 2022, but now finally they return with their third album, out through their new strategic alliance with Soulseller Records.
When comparing the old albums and the new, in essence you could say that ‘Within the Flesh’ is a combination of ‘Serpents ov Old’ and the subsequent EP ‘Koinonia’. The band still blends Black Metal from Norway, Sweden and Finland, sounding roughly like a clash of Tsjuder, Nordjevel, Funeral Mist and Sargeist. However, one distinction on ‘Within the Flesh’ is that the guitars have a slightly rawer and deeper tone, creating a buzzing sound that very much reminds me of the Aosoth record ‘III: Violence & Variations’. Furthermore, underneath the riffs is an unsettling dissonance that is more omnipresent than it was on ‘Serpents ov Old’, another feature that inevitably draws Doedsvangr closer to guitar player BST’s former band. And mind you, that is nothing but positive as the gap left by the French band is still felt. The almost mechanical thundering punch of Antichristian’s kick drums, the buzzing crunch of Shatraug and BST’s guitars, the pulsating bass of Sanrabb and the vile dictation of Doedsadmiral contribute to a Doedsvangr album that feels darker, more impenetrable and unnerving than any of their previous recordings.
Yet there is room for some melodic elements, for instance in the weeping lead of ‘Black Sun Dissolution’ or the quite open melodies in ‘Omnipath’. There are some atmospheric humming keys in ‘Blodskam’ too, adding greatly to the atmosphere of the track. I will remember this album fondly for its overall grittier and more choking appearance. For instance in ‘Blodskam’, where a skincrawling dragging tempo evolves into a cataclysmic burst of violence. Or in ‘Devil Bites Man’ and ‘Within the Flesh’, where the ferocity is fully unleashed is where the band is at their best. The howling lead in ‘Black Sun Dissolution’ is highly memorable as well, and in its entirety the album feels like a clear step up from their previous work.
The shift towards a more menacing and suffocating guitar sound with an increased level of dissonance make ‘Within the Flesh’ the most convincing Doedsvangr album to date. By no means dismissing the band’s earlier work, in the past they mostly just lived up to certain standard expected from the experience of the members. Yet now feels as if this union has fully found its stride, together creating something twisted and intriguing that is more than the sum of all its parts. (VincentP)
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If you are a frequent visitor to this site, you have to be aware of this supergroup of sorts. I hesitated utilizing that word, tho. Just saying the names Shatraug, Doedsadmiral, Sanrabb, Anti-Christian, and new addition BST, it should bring stars to anyone’s eyes if you can imagine the possibilities. So what can we expect when these luminaries of all that is black join together in hell’s fires?
I find it interesting and perhaps a bit dismayed that what we have is almost a perfect amalgamation of the said members’ original bands, with perhaps a bit of Mayhem during their ‘Grand Declaration of War’ era added into the dynamic. You get some of the mid-paced injection of Sargiest/ Horna, and then you have the slight off-kilter dissonance of Aosoth. Plus, you have the dynamic vocals of Doedsadmiral that give that particularly evil sheen to the songs themselves. His voice, I feel, is what helps elevate the overall presentation. So, having said that, you know exactly which member wrote what. You can hear the unique signatures of their contributions. The music itself doesn’t take too many steps to be more imaginative or step outside the box, despite the pedigree of the members involved. I was extremely curious to delve into this release, mainly to see how much new addition BST added to the songwriting process. We all know that with the dissolution of Aosoth, what type of void was left in our black hearts. Besides his welcomed input into the mix, not much has changed otherwise. I have been keeping tabs on the band since their onset, obviously, like many, curiosity is the driving factor into what the band is about. Production has that modern feel and does not give much of a cold or bleak tone. That seems to be left to other bands to utilize. Much of the atmosphere the band exudes is through the songs themselves. I will say take the time to listen to album closer ‘Rite of Thorns, Rise of Flesh’, the song perfectly encapsulates the very essence of what I feel Doedsvanger is about. At 9 minutes, it’s a quality way to finish out the album.
If I can also take the opportunity to speak very personally for myself here. I will give you one gripe and one positive about the album to share with you all. I was a tad let down with the drumming style of drummer Anti-Christian. It is not bad by any means, but I really prefer his approach to what he did in Tsjuder. Relentless and pummeling, it was a driving force for that band to be high on my list of favorites. I will cite the title track ‘Within The Flesh’ as the closest to what brought me to that particular feeling. A plus for me is that I’m a sucker for the Black Metal aesthetic. When seeing the corpse paint and associated imagery for myself, it adds to the vibe as a whole. I’m glad to see that the band continues to maintain this visual. Also, props for the album artwork, which has been similar across all releases. It has an ancient quality about it, such as you may find in a book of spells or something of the sort.
So not a bad release by any stretch of the word, and in a different era and with fewer expectations of the clientele involved, this would have been a must-have for many. Plus, with the mentioned curiosity factor being a primary impetus, I hope it doesn’t fall too much by the wayside as just “another” band. (Will ‘Bones’ Lee)
