Review Summary: You like the freaky stuff, huh? That's cool.
It’s difficult, if not impossible, to truly convey Wulkanaz’ signature sound by way of written word. If you’ve spent much time listening to black metal, you’ve likely heard the genre mixed with punk, but maybe not quite in this way. Much like dropping psychedelics for the first time, it’s something that you just have to jump into. And similarly, your results will undoubtedly vary. Some people will hate the brutally raw and unpolished results found on this Swede’s 2018 self-titled album, and largely the rest of his discography. Others will find those aspects to be the record’s biggest draws. The guitars are twangy, punky and at times sink into a droning static. They’re almost always discordant, as are the folk instruments when they make an appearance. The riffs come fast and loose, opting for an unconventional amalgamation between first wave tremolo-laden thrashing and punk. The drums are frequently buried so deep in the mix as to nearly disappear, aside from the snare which shepherds the songs along. The vocals are writhing and tormented, even goblin-like at times. The production quality is better than perhaps some other acts of black metal yore, but it’s intentionally crunchy and mostly flat. Written in proto-Germanic and dealing with an obscure esoteric take on magic, the lyrical subject matter is no less demanding than the music itself. But the net result of all this grating chaos is 34 minutes of pure black metal magic. This is a captivating album if you’re in the right headspace. It’s hypnotic and abrasive, keeping the listener on their toes while simultaneously sucking them down into a mire of inharmonious transfixion. If you’re not familiar with Wulkanaz’ signature sound, this album is a great place to start getting acquainted.
