Vehemency
Take some Forgotten Tomb and Shining and mix them together: this recipe pretty much provides what Svart has to offer on this EP ”Namnlös och Bortglömd” (”Nameless and forgotten” if my Swedish skills can tackle that one), a fitting title to depict the mournful, dreary atmosphere. So do not expect to hear anything innovative, but hey, this is doom-influenced depressive black metal: it’s supposed to be bleak and, well, perhaps even the opposite of innovative.
There’s lots of reverb all around the instruments, capturing an atmosphere of desolate landscapes. The first two tracks, ”Den Hemlöses Klagosång” and ”Den Sista Droppen Utav Liv” are loud as hell and a part of me despises the overcompressed sound, but on the other hand it does its job as an attacking element: this music is no silent wailing, this is the last burst of energy of a depressed man. Tempo going from mid-paced to slow, Svart presents simple and recurring riffs and despondent screams throughout the 8-minute songs. The title-track, then, is a change of style, comprised of sole piano - the sound filled with reverb again - playing similar melodies in style as guitars on the previous tracks.
Clocking at under 25 minutes, the ideas presented on ”Namnlös och Bortglömd” never manage to sound tiresome, but then again there’s already many similar releases in existence. ”Namnlös och Bortglömd” is, however, a good EP and a definite investment for those who are really into this style.