Review: Skarntyde – Flukt fra menneskeligheten

Review by Sandre the Giant

I first heard German black metal traditionalists Skarntyde on 2019’s ‘Spurvehawk’ debut, and they are now back with their full length debut, ‘Flukt fra menneskeligheten’, that they’ve self released on Bandcamp. The album title translates to ‘Escape from humaneness’, and centres on a protagonist who turns his back on the world. It is out now!

Skarntyde’s work is very Norwegian inspired, not just in name (‘skarntyde’ is Norwegian for poison hemlock), but in style and language. The band draw deeply from the second wave black metal legends like Darkthrone, Mayhem and Gorgoroth and the opener ‘Ting som jeg er så lei av’ has all the hallmarks of that sound. The buzzing, waspish guitar tone, the rasping snarls, the clattering drums and the pervasive cold atmospheres; all classic cliches but Skarntyde fight that one dimensional thought with some nice Nordic folk interludes and passages, breaking apart that permafrost to allow a little growth to sprout within. There’s a number of bleak midpaced tracks that feel a little different, like the evocative ‘Fjellene ligger foran meg’ with its cold, acoustic passages and spiralling atonal guitar work dissolving into discordant piano. These pieces help to break Skarntyde out of a mere copycat mode into something much more interesting.

‘Flukt fra menneskeligheten’ is an album that doesn’t totally confound expectations of it, but yet has enough variety and interesting diversions that you won’t ever be bored. Savagery abounds, but this isn’t just a one trick pony, Skarntyde more than deliver on the variety, songwriting and execution fronts and make this a great black metal album.

https://skarntyde.bandcamp.com/releases

Review: Skarntyde – Spurvehauk

Review by Sandre the Giant

The trve Norwegian theme runs deep through this debut demo from raw black metallers Skarntyde. Their name is the Norwegian name for ‘poisonous hemlock’, which any self respecting druid will know is nasty stuff, and their lyrics and song titles are all Norwegian too. Nasty, second wave worship is what we are in for here. it is out now through their Bandcamp.

Opener ‘Sult’ is an exercise in the cathartic power of proper raw black metal. Scalding riffs breathe fire over snarling vocals and an impenetrable drum battery in the background. The concept of the album follows the sparrowhawk in its hunger and hunt for prey. It is a really interesting concept for an EP to contain and follow, and it works. The eagerness of ‘Fokus’, searching for prey amongst savage riffs. ‘Jakten’, the hunt itself with a pensive guitar building into the crescendoing attack run. ‘Ferskt Blod’, rife with the fresh kill, blood drenched vocals scouring harsh, midpaced black metal and ‘Fred’, a dark sense of satisfaction and completeness.

I love the idea that ‘Spurvehauk’ builds upon, and with each track you can imagine the drama unfold in your mind. The pure violence of nature, captured within icy raw riffing and primal shrieks and growls. ‘Spurvehauk’ is an intrguing proposition whose concept elevates it above most raw black metal I’ve heard in recent memory.

https://skarntyde.bandcamp.com/album/spurvehauk