Info
- Band(s): Törnen
- Label(s): Medieval Prophecy Records, Sonorous Night
- Release Format(s): 12" vinyl, Cassette, CD
- Release Year: 2024
- Review Date: February 18, 2025
- Author(s): FelixS
Although prior the release of ‘Under Korpens Visdom’ there was rumour that Swartadauþuz was a part of Törnen, it eventually turned out he was not. Yet, that idea was not all too far-fetched, not only as Törnen partly has Swedish roots but also because of the involvement of Alexander Poole, here as Azeruel, who share the same tendency to be involved in well over a dozen bands and projects – even sharing at least one with Swartadauþuz. But the most striking resemblance with the Swartadauþuz-involved bands is that Törnen bears a similar musical signature.
Indeed, that means Törnen is roughly in the same musical ballpark as the lion’s share of Swartadauþuz’ work, which amounts to fairly moody, atmospheric Black Metal with plenty of keyboards to convey that particular sound. Well, I often say that Swartadauþuz’s music is essentially not wrong, but that it often lacks a bit of bite and is probably weighed down by the excessive amount of music he releases under various monikers. Exactly this conclusion can almost be drawn with a piece of carbon paper for Törnen as well.
As a whole, ‘Under Korpens Visdom’ feels like a more or less directionless record. Sometimes the keyboards are the overriding force, but at other moments they seem to find their way into the music a bit more in harmony with the guitars, but however it all falls, it all just seems to fall short. Calling ‘Under Korpens Visdom’ bad is not justified, as nowhere does it really sink through the bottom line, but nowhere is it really worth putting your hard-earned money into this either. A conclusion that feels almost unnatural because the Medieval Prophecy Records label usually stands for rock-solid releases that are actually almost all gems in their genre.
Here, however, it just doesn’t fall into place properly, everything feels like loose little ideas that don’t fit together sufficiently and don’t form a coherent whole. One moment there’s a clear rocking classic Darkthrone vibe to it, while the next moment we get a rather cheap keyboard-driven affair to digest.
The current juncture does not play in the band’s favour either, at the moment there are again countless bands that have chosen exactly this formula and designed it in a much better way than Törnen does on this debut record. So, in the end, it was not a very strange thought that Swartadauþuz was involved with this band, because Törnen does fall a bit within the same cloth: not entirely unpleasant, but little elegance or conviction. Close, but no cigar.
Medieval Prophecy Records
- Country: Belgium
- Style: Black Metal
- Links: Youtube
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Sonorous Night
- Country: Norway
- Style: Black Metal
- Links: Instagram, Bandcamp, Youtube
