Trelldom
Til Minne
Regain Records 2007
After a huge break between albums, Gaahl's (vocalist of Gorgoroth) most personal
project returns with an album that is both stronger than its predecessor and
also sees Trelldom at its most creative and strongest. To be honest though
I much prefer Gaahl's work within the framework of Gorgoroth as I think the
songs are better written and have more impact on me as a listener. Til
Minne is sort of typical Norwegian black metal but taken at a very minimalist
angle. Yeah, it is bleak and dark but it also doesn't really do that much
for me. A lot of people have been hailing this album but to me I think it
is a little overhyped. It is by no means a bad album, I just think that it
is given more credit than it is probably due because of Gaahl's participation.
Some album highlights are Fra Mitt Gamle with its disorienting and swirling riff
that layered vocals. Plus there are some vocals during the middle of the
song that bring to mind Gorgoroth's original vocalist Hat. Truly wicked!
As I said this album is a very minimal as riffs repeat endlessly and there is
not a lot done to add any additional influences into the framework of Trelldom.
Listen to Steg which has the same traditional Norwegian styled black metal riff
on what seems like a 7 and a half minute loop while deep spoken vocals preach
over the top of it all, luckily it breaks down for the last minute into some
strange shimmering keyboard and disharmonic guitar work which is the albums most
interesting musical passage in my ears. The album ends with Eg Reiste i
Minnet which starts of with some killer folky violins and then dissolves into
some rather uninspired layered deep humming vocals. I don't dislike this
album but at the same time I am not blown away. It is solid traditional
Norwegian black metal, nothing more and nothing less. If you are dying for
more work by the enigma that is Gaahl, then by all means check this out but I
recommend completing your Gorgoroth collection first. (skipping Incipit Satan of
course).