After three years of near silence, Swedish trio Jordfäst came crashing back with a barrage of three singles — each one a warning shot for their new full-length, Blodsdåd och Hor(“Bloodcrime and Whoredom”). A title like that doesn’t exactly whisper “gentle listening,” so let’s dig in.
On Hädaneffer (2021) and Av Stoft (2022), the focus was still on straight-up Black Metal fury. But over the past few years, Pagan influences have crept into the band’s DNA, enriching their sound with new textures and atmosphere without softening the edge.
This time, the album is split into two major titles, each broken down into four “chapters.” On the earlier records, those two titles were monolithic epics averaging seventeen minutes apiece; here, the formula changes. We get eight distinct tracks — leaner, but no less intense.
Things kick off with Ett altare av Skärvor (An Altar of Shards), where Jordfäst’s updated sound hits instantly. Elis Edin Markskog’s snarling, venomous delivery collides with layered vocal harmonies, giving the songs a taut, compact feel. Meanwhile, drummer Jocke Unger delivers machine-tight patterns that roll over the music like a merciless waltz. The production keeps everything razor-sharp, letting the music thunder forward and grind the altar’s shards into dust.
Dit gudarna trälar är (“Where the Gods Are Slaves”) plays like a dark myth in sonic form. Fallen gods, bent under an unseen power, are conjured through a mix of slow, suffocating passages and sudden bursts of chaos — as if the music itself can’t decide between submission and revolt. The result is towering and ominous, radiating both reverence and doom.
Jordfäst’s latest offering makes a solid impact. The Pagan elements never dominate, avoiding the Viking Metal trap and instead adding genuine depth to the overall vision. If this record is any indication, these three Swedes still have plenty of dark magic left to conjure.
85/100
Jordfäst:
Bandcamp
Facebook
Instagram
Homepage
Black Lion Records:
Instagram
Facebook
Bandcamp