Hladomrak (Slavic Хладомрак meaning ‘cold darkness’) hail from Sweden and were formed in 2011 by members of e.g. Promenia and A.N.T.I. They self-released their self-titled album on March 31st 2013, but the strong Winter Solace-label is so smart to give it a decent chance right now. Respect!
This album lasts for just over forty minutes and brings a fast, energetic, rhythmic, thrashing, pounding and melodic form of Black Metal. Hereby…
No, seriously, it is what it is, but what about the sound, the performance-quality, the overall impression? Well, actually it is respectively positive, positive and positive. When it comes to the first, the sound, I need to throw with superlatives. The production is decent yet certainly not too clean. I do appreciate the raw edge, for it does define the grim attitude in its sonic existence. The song writing isn’t that world-shocking, but just decent too. Hladomrak isn’t the most renewing album on Mater Terra, but the tracks are just fine-tuned and well-performed hymns with a technical craftsmanship, a nice balance in different speeds and structures, and somewhat catchy but energetic melodies. Besides, the addition of (semi) acoustic passages does give that little extra to this fierce, powerful sonic experience.
Don’t expect a renewing release, nor a unique creation of revealing extra-ordinary. Hladomrak just bring nice, decent Black Metal with a catchy edge, a timeless approach and a professional (yet not clinically infantile) sound. In an over-crowded tenderness this album might not startle, but objectively seen it is a very pleasant / pleasing experience with a couple of highlights.