Michiel van der Werff is no stranger to the Dutch Black Metal scene. He has shared the stage with Wrang, was involved in the inception of Wesenwille, and performs as Hræsvelg within Weltschmerz. Since 2021, he has also been exploring solo work under the name Sterveling, including the raw and promising 2022 demo “In de schoot der aarde” (“In the Womb of the Earth”).
After this first solitary exploration, Van der Werff now returns with a full-length album, for which he sought the support and collaboration of several Black Metal brethren. With this new effort, Sterveling takes the next step: from an intimate, personal expression to a more powerful and layered sound, where tradition and innovation converge.
The album consists of three tracks, two of which exceed the fifteen-minute mark. A strong atmospheric presence runs throughout, at times enhanced by old-school synths. Vocally, there is a wide range here—icy screams alternate with clean vocals, adding a layer of finesse to the whole.
The dissonant guitars, clearly panned left and right, do not fail in their task of making the sound even grittier. The simple drum patterns, however, tend to fade into the background and occasionally come across as somewhat tinny, though this does not drag the music down.
What we have here are three solid atmospheric compositions that never overstay their welcome despite their length. There is undoubtedly a great deal of potential within Sterveling, and it will be interesting to see what Van der Werff brings forth in the coming years.
80/100
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