Info
- Band(s): Tyranni
- Label(s): Mysticism Productions, New Era Productions
- Release Format(s): 12" vinyl, CD
- Release Year: 2024
- Review Date: February 25, 2025
- Author(s): FelixS
Tyranni came to my attention somewhere during the summer of 2019 with the 3-track ‘Baron Av Avoghetens Smärta’-promo tape, which ultimately led to the debut full-length a few months later in the winter months of the same year. That promo tape was clearly an appetizer of what was to come, as not only the three tracks also appeared in a slightly updated form, at least sound-wise, on the full-length album even the title got that slight update: ‘Baron Af Avoghetens Smärta’. In hindsight, that one letter difference seemed to be symbolic for the what Tyranni stood for: a rather steady force of moody, atmospheric Black Metal. Yet, for the one willing to take a deeper dive, there is a lot going on here on this long-awaited sophomore album of the Swedes.
Driving force behind Tyranni is someone called Svartpest, while that might not immediately rings a bell with everyone, his other pseudonym Swartadauþuz will definitely sounds much more familiar. With bands such as Gnipahålan, Mystik, Greve, Bekëth Nexëhmü, Trolldom and Azelisassath he has found his way to many a collection of Black Metal fanatics around the world. The great common denominator in almost all of his work is his sense for a gloomy atmosphere, while the more Death Metal-driven bands such as Musmahhu might sound different at first blush, the careful listener will definitely be able to hear this musician’s hand in the creative way of pushing his trademark atmosphere. Tyranni, in that respect, was no exception on that tried and tested formula.
One could argue that Svartpest/Swartadauþuz keeps a bit too many bands and projects and in his never-ending stream of releases he too loses it a little. Simply put: sometimes it feels like the emphasis is more on quantity than on quality. In one of my previous reviews on his work I once dropped the idea that working alone it might be the case he misses the input of others and, more specifically, the breaks and filter of others. Prime example is the large output of Bekëth Nexëhmü in a rather short period, which altogether in fact could have been drilled down to more or less two great records.
Alright, enough of the side-babbling, but it actually serves a purpose. Tyranni operates as a three-piece and in a significantly slower pace, consequently making ‘Dränkt Av Livets Sekret’ a much more coherent and overall more exciting release than most of Svartpest’s other recent work. Musically, the album is a clear continuation from 2019’s ‘Baron Af Avoghetens Smärta’, so with only a few minimal changes they once again managed to stick to their steady musical direction. Compared to the previous recordings, there is even more focus on atmosphere, with a ‘lighter’ sound and more allowance for keyboards.
As said, almost all of the Svartpest/Swartadauþuz-related bands have a strong sense for a moody spirit, but the keyboards in Tyranni are definitely on a different level. An almost Abysmal Grief like gloomy atmosphere gives the music a far more haunting ambiance than any of this other bands. Although I don’t remember where I’ve seen it, but someone said it reminded him on the current Belgian scene of the likes of Moenen Of Xezbeth, Perverted Ceremony and Forbidden Temple and that actually is not much of a far-fetched idea. Tyranni bears an evident resemblance in the sense of wearing the same sort occult sounding melodies and a deepfelt ancient ambiance.
But while those Belgians bands clearly fall in the category of bands that are seemingly influenced by the likes of early Barathrum, Necromantia, Mortuary Drape and Samael, Tyranni touches on this only shallowly. Because besides their obvious Second Wave Black Metal roots and this “ancient” feeling and use of ditto keyboards, Tyranni is built on the fundamentals of (Dark) Wave and Post-Punk bands of the 80’s. While that has been part of ‘Baron Af Avoghetens Smärta’ as well, this is an element of the band that has significantly progressed on this newest album. In a few tracks there is a nice and crisp up-beat tempo as well as recognizable “Wave”-melody, but especially in the album’s closing track, ‘Vid Ättestupans Kall’ an unmistakable parallel with Echo & The Bunnymen or even Joy Division is easily drawn. Or, if you’d place it in a more contemporary setting, comparisons with acts such as Agnes Circle and Drab Majesty are spot on.
This all makes ‘Dränkt Av Livets Sekret’ a more than interesting and intriguing record that saves a lot of the previous elements and the overall Tyranni musical DNA, but adds more than a compelling extra ingredient. In a strangely hypnotising way, the album sounds both conservative and adventurous, though all captured in a modest fashion. So, indeed, those willing to take this deeper dive will find a very solid Atmospheric Black Metal record.
Mysticism Productions
- Country: Sweden
- Style: Black Metal, Other
- Links: Homepage, Bandcamp, Youtube
Related Articles
Reviews
New Era Productions
- Country: Netherlands
- Style: Black Metal
- Links: Homepage, Facebook, Instagram
