A lot of bands have done it before - used WWII as a thematic point of origin. Some of the grandest of metal songs is build upon the world's largest conflict, such as Slayers "Angel of Death" and Iron Maidens "Aces High". The Swedish power metal outfit Sabaton has entire albums dedicated to it. And let us not forget the glorious "Panzer Division Marduk" album - which incidentally was the first thought in my head when I played Blood on Snow for the first time.

It is nowhere near as fast-paced or high-pitched, but damn is this album gruesomely awesome! It is dark and pounding, criss-crossed with shit-your-pants-scary sound-samples, dominated by death wails of pure hatred and endless sorrow. I have never been to war - and I sincerely hope I will never have to - but I figure that this is as close to the sound of bitter warfare as a five-man band comes.

This is black metal of the cold and hypnotic sort - in the same realm as Helheim, Endstille and late Nargaroth - but this marvelous debut also contains other styles as well. There is elements of old school death in many songs, and the last track is more like a ten minute symphonic elegy than a traditional song.

I am simply surprised by this band. In the good way.