Hersir Hateful Draugar From The Underground

If classic outputs from DARKTHRONE, ENSLAVED, EMPEROR or ISENGARD et al. make your blood boil, you should make sure to purchase HERSIR's album and immerse yourself in its Northern Black Metal excellence.Despite having already been incepted in 2016 by Grim Vindkall who is primarily known for his band DOMGÅRD, Swedish HERSIR have up until this point kept a rather low profile. With only three demos to their name – none of which released physically – the horde has remained a rather obscure entity.Once released, chances are that the sheer quality of HERSIR's first full-length effort Hateful Draugar From The Underground will rectify that situation in no time, though. Completely devoid of unnecessary gimmicks of any sorts, HERSIR are all content and no show. For a change, everything – the well-written lyrics dealing with Nordic spirituality of the shadow side, the music, the visual presentation – feels genuine and without any infantile pretence.Their very aptly titled album convinces with hateful and majestic Black Metal of a distinctively northern nature. The vocals brimming with contempt and savagery are one of the highlights of the full-length. Vocalist Haugbúi's rather low, raspy tone and pestilent delivery seem like the perfect fit for HERSIR's rather simple and stripped-down compositions. Overtly complex structures are left out to augment the war-like quality of the recording and in favour of conjuring epic atmospheres often built upon melodies stemming from the old Nordic tradition. The impact of some of the memorable riffs is further increased by the sporadic inclusion of keyboards.Overall, this album is the real deal and deserves to be attentively listened to by anyone into genuinely dark Black Metal.Mastered by Patrick W. Engel at Temple Of Disharmony. Side A:1. Dauðvána2. Hateful Draugar From The Underground3. The Ironclad Fighters Of Hjaðningavíg4. The Fiddler5. Walking The Way Of GiantsSide B:1. Holocaust Winter2. Valgaldr3. Purification By Fire4. Blood Runs From The Hörgr5. Divinations At The Old Springs