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VALDRIN
Two Carrion Talismans

Blood Harvest (2018)
Rating: 8/10

Valdrin is an interesting black metal bunch from Cincinnati, Ohio; the sort of wretched yet melodic combo that should appeal to those with a fetish for late 90s black metal. The vocal attack is pretty gnarled throughout, the riffs are well-oiled yet smoking and there’s a general feel of being bewitched as the posse embarks upon its sophomore outing.

Eight tracks await us on this perilous mission through ancient mythology and occult conjuring, where well-orchestrated passages flirt with those hefty, black rumbles as opening cut ‘Junnatox’ marries speedier segments with slick, methodical traces.

‘Nex – The Barren Sculptor’ continues the despicable traits; the vocals are a mocking and snarling force which worm in grim fashion through the maze of cavernous, angular rhythms. Flashes of hammering drums give way to abrasive gleams as an atmospheric key lightens the toxic environment while an unsteady, jolting wall of sound scurries like a steely, devilish rat.

This is good, infectious black metal. Not mind-boggling in its complexity but intricate enough to provide the listener with enough eeriness and splendour to dig deep into, and ‘Nex – The Barren Sculptor’ really does some up the unnerving nature of this intelligent opus which is flecked with progressive tints.

‘Sinews Of Blood And Vein’ seems rather apt in its title. The track is made up of black, threatening rushes which rush in more formulaic black metal fashion, but the sudden dimming of sound brings extra stark chills before the grisly gallop takes over and Carter Hicks’ scowls weave.

One can certainly hear the classic Scandinavian influence throughout this record. There’s a strong sense of the epic too as the vicious atmosphere of ‘Funeral Tides Of Orcus’ comes rumbling with grim intensity; the grandiose guitar sound coupled with those percussive stirs are just so terrifying in their structure.

And such a behemoth sound is matched by the foul reaches of ‘Crimson Blades In The Ausadjur Wa’, which begins like a black metal variation of Slayer before a cold lead clambers through the murkiness and an ice cold blizzard envelopes the ears with its cascading snipes. Again there’s that fleck of orchestrated melody though, adding a haunting touch to proceedings as the track unravels. And that’s the talent of these guys, constructing big, brooding tracks with a variety of ingredients from eerie acoustic trickles right down to those relentless barrages of wickedness.

The evil surge of ‘Tempest Torn Asunder’ is a prime example of that mixing of melody and pace, while ‘Vesper In The Animus Lair’ begins like a suspenseful horror movie soundtrack before the dissonant arrangements take over, leading us into a thick mire of abrasive sounds; the suffocating guitar sound just so potent and dark.

It’s been four years since the band’s Beyond The Forest debut, and yet it’s clear that in their absence Valdrin has been busy creating this unholy and mystical creation that exudes class, swagger and malice.

Neil Arnold

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