Ved Graven: Lo-fi Norwegian death rituals

Since my cassette player on my stereo broke, I was rather upset. But in another sense did not feel a complete loss, as i only possessed cheap homemade tapes anyways. But after receiving a letter for Die Hard zine from Infamroth with a copy of Ved Graven inside, i immediately went on the hunt for a new one. Where might i find something so obsolete and rare? I scoured the local thrift stores and came up with a gem of a handheld cassette player, painted it black, and invoked the ritual Ved Graven under favorable conditions.

Read the rest of the review after the jump!

What ensued was like experiencing the secret society of the early black metal scene in Norway, at least in aesthetics. The past few years have witnessed the forging spirit of the serpent, and life pulse of the more lo-fi, dark atmospheric style. I place worship unto bands also in the Trondheim area who have opened new portals for the elite few still holding onto the true attitude and spirit of black metal. Listening to Ved Graven, can be considered to be going in an almost reverse linear path in terms of production, and sounds more like demo quality. (Infamroth also told me the tape is perhaps more chaotic). Instead of arrogant musicianship and an irrelevant attack of blastbeats or cloned vocals which is found to please most overground black metal fans, it creeps along at the pace of a noxious thick smoke rising into the air. The atmosphere itself is quite intoxicating and organic, not subject to careful mixing and polishing. All recordings were made over 3 nights of near possession, and unveiled live, this is what you can expect if ever witnessing them in the flesh. Some vox, and organ pieces were coalesced into the already violent cacophony of sound. Infamroth’s screams range from being low drawn out chants to beastly screams. It’s the kind of black metal that nicely fills and empty room, it’s full and all encompassing. I felt quite removed from everything while having headphones on full volume. “Åpne Alle Sår” is one of the longer hymns, fairly minimalistic when you crave it most. Vardalv becomes the archetype of all drumming styles, which should reflect on his experience and understanding of black metal. Nothing is one track minded. One will also sense an element of fear, if your consciousness can attain to darker levels you will be able to fully embrace it. I am void of further speech, there no solitary songs that stand out because it is meant to be listened all at once, without distraction.

 

Ved Graven is not complete without the artwork, a rough drawing of an empty black tomb which appears to contain a gravitational force of it’s own, pulling the surrounding dirt towards it. All bathed in a blood red hue, invoking thoughts of death and suffering. I thought it was metaphorical in sort to the essence of the music itself, like a vacuum for those who get too close. The devils wolves with cloven hooves returned for a black mass of Satanic worship.