Srodek is one of those rare
bands that actually lives up to every single stereotypical standards of its
chosen style. We are dealing with a one-man, ultra underground, old school,
Scandinavian black metal band. It is replete with all meta-musical trapments such
as the unpronounceable name, the unreadable cryptogram of a logo, and a web presence that
would create feelings of unending envy in secret black ops units.
In other words: My expectations were high, when I pressed play. I wanted to find
out just how much Srodek lives up to his
apparent affinity for the sub-underground. And I was not disappointed at
all!
Förfall is covered, from start till end, in that
very special kind of agonizing despair and weltschmerz,
that created the true Scandinavian black metal sound back in the early 90's.
This is dark, slow, gruelling, grim and literally hypnotic,
forcing listeners into a nightmarish dreamscape,
riding the Hel horse, through a mist of restless
souls. Its hooves beating a slow rhythm, as it continues its never-ending journey
trough the land of the dead. Its breath, a primal metallic scream, electrifies
the air, pollution everything around it with the
stench of dead hope.
Srodek belongs in the underworld - if that is a
favorite source of music for you, check this album out!
