Review by UnhinderedbyTalent for Svartidauði - Revelations of the Red Sword (2018)

You got to hand it to these Icelandic bm bands, they are good at what they do. In researching this review, I had a look at a few names in the scene and from Abominor through to Zhrine, you are kind of spoilt for choice. Over the past five years or so, I have spent some considerable time with Revelations of the Red Sword from Svartidauði. I would say that in that half decade I have only grown more attached to its undulating dissonance the longer that I have listened to it. This statement is made more important by the fact that I will freely admit to hearing something new each time I listen to it.

This continued voyage of discovery is what keeps me coming back to the record. I almost con myself to some degree in thinking I am revisiting to enjoy those familiar moments when in fact I subconsciously know that I am here again to uncover yet more from this gift that keeps on giving. Decidedly French sounding in their take on the style (albeit a little less blunt than that particular geography), Svartidauði fill each track here with complex layers of dissonance that can take time to mould on the brain – hence my sense of constantly learning new things from this.

What you have here is thoroughly modern bm with some real depth to explore to boot. I cannot accurately plot into words how eleven-minute plus closer Aurem Lux makes me feel. It is one of the most complete pieces of music in metal that I have heard in a long time and is a perfect curtain call on a band who are sadly no longer together to give us anymore of this brilliance.