Bilskirnir are one of the more consistently good bands in the modern German black metal scene. Comprised of a single member it is admirable that all instruments are covered by him and that there is no resorting to studio magic or synthesized instruments. The drumming is not exactly a marvel, but it is still preferable to a drum machine, and of course to the overly triggered sound of modern metal drumming. The whole album has a rather organic feel in the area of production (except the vocals have to either have distortion added or are clipping) with little done to alter the sound of the instruments as far as effects and mastering goes. The result is favorable, because the recording is distinct and instruments are clear in the mix but still has the primitive rough sound to it that bands like Moonblood exploited to new heights.
The strongest aspect of Bilskirnirs music is the strong harmonies that appear in every song. The guitars are often in a very melodic harmony, which at times give an epic sound to the riffing (such as the main riff in restitution). Very solid work that definitely compensates for the simplicity of the drum work and sits nicely in the mid tempo range. Rhythmically the drums provide the drive that moves the songs along and keeps everything moving toward the next section, with small fills signaling riff changes and vocals entrances.
Vocals are another strong point of the release. They are very harsh and definitely dominant in the mix, yet they do not overpower the guitar work and generally are sparse and drawn out. The vocals are rhythmically very sparse and increase the epic feel of the riffs, with phrasing similar to Varg on Black Spell of Destruction. They also convey the lyrical themes well, as the epic quality alludes to the pagan themes while the hateful energy put into them clearly increases the intent of the N.S. themes in the lyrics.
Clean guitars also appear sparsely, slightly out of tune, but somehow this helps contribute to the organic production. It feels like a very well done self production, everything is distinct, but not isolated from the other instruments which too often happens in the studio. Structurally the album is diverse enough to not quickly bore listeners into the usual verse/chorus routine, which is substantially caused by the vocal work. Another factor in this is the inclusion of guitar leads between sections and clean passages in the music (which are very short and not overdone or drawn out).
Especially recommended to fans of Burzum and Moonblood, fans of raw but not monotone black metal will definitely enjoy this one.
