VATTNET VISKAR — Settler (review)

Album · 2015 · Atmospheric Black Metal

4.5/5 · 2016-01-14
adg211288

Settler (2015) is the second full-length album by US black metal act Vattnet Viskar. The band, whose previous release was Sky Swallower (2013), were inspired by 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster for the album, with particular attention given to Christa McAuliffe, the school teacher who was chosen by NASA to take part in the mission as part of their Teacher in Space Project, which ended with the explosion of the shuttle 73 seconds after it launched - which is actually the one event of this true story that Vattnet Viskar have chosen to leave out of the album. The reasoning behind this concept is, according to guitarist Chris Alfieri in an interview with Decibel Magazine dated June 17th 2015: "Christa was from Concord, New Hampshire, the town that I live in. One of my first memories is the Challenger mission’s demise, so it’s a personal thing for me. But the album isn’t about the explosion, its about everything else. Pushing to become something else, something better. A transformation, and touching the divine." The album's cover artwork, which is quite unusual for a black metal release, is based off a photograph of Christa McAuliffe.

The core of the music on Settler is atmospheric black metal (sometimes leaning towards blackgaze) but there are also strong sludge metal elements that add a much heavier edge to the proceedings. At times, the album sounds less black metal and more like some kind of atmospheric early Mastodon. The eight track release isn't that long, falling a little shy of the forty minute mark, making the individual songs all short and to the point, but with a good flow between them to make Settler an experience best taken in a single sitting, which the short running time makes very doable. No ideas in the composition outstay their welcome this way. It's a very easy album to listen to over and over. The harsh vocals of Nicholas Thornbury don't make easy following and as is the case with a lot of black metal like this (with or without the sludge element) they feel more like a component of the atmosphere the band is creating, rather than something to carry the track forward. If I had to pick a favourite track I think I'd have to say the second song on the album, Colony. I like the way it switches from absorbing atmospheric black metal to crushing sludge.

It's an instantly impressive release, but it's only with subsequent listens that I begin to really appreciate what a real gem of the black metal genre Settler is. For all the genre's reputation for raw, under-produced sounds and corpse painted musicians there exist groups like Vattnet Viskar and albums like Settler, which show the style's diversity. This is a mesmerising release from the group. It could even be considered a beautiful piece of work in many respects as the band clearly have an ear for melody, which has a big presence on Settler. The album has been steadily working its way up my list of 2015 releases, and I'd say that out of everything I listened to for the year, this is most definitely in the top five. Highly recommended!

more than 2 years ago
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adg211288 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Thanks Jonas, I played this one a little while back on Spotify and enjoyed it then. I got the CD the other day and have played it several times already. It's definitely a great release.

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I actually remember the Challenger disaster quite vividly myself, as it happened on the evening of my 9th birthsday, just before an episode of MacGyver was about to be shown on Danish television. I miss the 80s and MacGyver´s hairdo :-)

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I really appreciate the background anekdotes about the release. If an album has a history, I think it´s important to describe it in a review (if the reviewer of course knows said history).

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

That´s a really well written review Adam. I´ll have to give this one a listen sometime.