ninehertz

Svarta Havet's ferocious commentary on the state of Western capitalism is laid bare on Månen ska lysa din väg, to the extent it's hard not to feel that caustic grief with them. Emotional black metal, crust punk and post-hardcore would have surely seemed the strangest bedfellows not too long ago, but there is a wealth of great music in this strange amalgamation of sounds nowadays, and this is right up with the best of it.

I'm completely sold less than half way into the opening track of eight, bringing early reminders to one of my favourite albums of this ilk, Suna Kulto by the Michigan band Dakhma. It ends with piano, a surprising beauty in amongst the vitriol. The vocals are sharp and harsh, but overwrought with emotional calling that's nigh on impossible not to hear, feel and respond to.

Avgrunden may be the best here, in its controlled and glorious chaos following a couple of minutes quiet introduction, its severity unusually uplifting and magnificent. And whilst that may be the highlight, it is one of several high peaks, on an album without a weak track. There are changes in pace - slowing it down, but even when there's even an inkling of the vitality being lessened, along comes another song full of urgency and righteous anger. The tempo contrasts help the flow of the album too.

This is an especially good album in a sub-sub-genre that is riding a high already, an album that is bright, bold and exuberant even as it takes from black metal to sharpen its post-hardcore base, even as the furiousness overflows. It brings light where there should be none, and it is in its best moments a real joy.