My first meeting with FÍR was due to my girlfriend dragging me to a live show of them, and I was taken away. Great second wave black metal executed perfectly, I was mesmerised during the entire show. Last week I saw this band in the list of reviews to do, and I grabbed it instantly. FÍR – Het sinistere oog (Dutch for ‘sinister eye’) is their first release after their debut De stilte van God released in 2024. This EP will be released on 12’’ vinyl through Amor Fati productions on the 31st of October this year.
Not much is known about the band, only that it is a solo project performed by FÍR, he is also known as The Specter from dungeon synth act Old Tower. Let’s see if he can bring the atmosphere from the live show over to recordings.
The EP starts with Een koude fluistering, the first 50 seconds we are greeted with an eerie atmosphere after which we are greeted with a single guitar that opens the music. Not even three seconds later the music erupts with a bombastic drum hit. The music opens up with a greatly executed blast beat and a true nineties guitar riff. The mix sounds clear yet harsh, vocals are where they are needed in the mix, the drums sound old school and the reverb on the toms really shines in the breaks. The bass guitar does nothing too exciting yet is clearly hearable in the mix, just what this music needs! They keep the tension high in this track while remaining interesting to listen to.
The second track Eeuwige nacht op de horizon starts by giving the listener a little room to breathe, as the first riff is a bit more slower paced. But that does not last that long till the blast beats take over again. This track has a lot more variety in the drumbeats, and this song truly has a hook to it.
The last three tracks, Poort achter het ontaarde woud, Wapen van elementaire duisternis and Bloedroven are keeping this trend. The variety in riffs, the way to keep the atmosphere intact and yet remaining truly old school sounding is a great feat. This reminds me a lot of Fluisterwoud, Urfaust and Lubbert Das.
If you seek a guideline on how to perform old school black metal, grab FÍR – Het sinistere oog on vinyl, you will not be sorry! The only downside is the duration, at 30 minutes and 34 seconds it is on the shorter side. It leaves me yearning for more.
95/100
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