EP REVIEW: Völniir – The Enigma

UK Black Metaller’s Völniir unleash their new EP, the following is what I have to say on each track and the overall release.

1. “Pestilence” is the introduction track, which is essentially ambience and haunting sound effects which opens the EP very nicely.
2. “Gomiheth” kicks in with a slow and atmospheric riff, something akin to Burzum back in the 90s, which I find in the UK Black Metal scene is not uncommon. The raw recording style and atmosphere of this song is really great and bleak. The interluding clean guitars have an almost DSBM touch to them which works perfectly before the distorted tones kick back in. After almost 3 minutes in the speed increases and the intensity grows, the vocals much lower than a lot of Black Metal and share some similarities with Behemoth’s Nergal.
3. “Beneath The Throne” has a crushing tone and intro riff. This song has a very different atmosphere to the prior which is not at all negative, for certain keeping things from becoming dull. This track feels more experimental than the last, with a sort of Mayhem style to it. The vocal work on this track is really great, in addition to the fast riffs this adds plenty of aggression to the song.
4. “In Talons Beareth” continues well from the previous track and flows nicely together. The atmosphere is not at all lost. For me this track sounds a lot like it had guitar influence from Inquisition while the vocals are very different. They work together extremely well with the drum battery and lower tremolo picked riffs to follow.
5. “Ascension” is the EPs closing track, it features extremely melodic clean guitars which lead out very nicely. Lovely rain sound effects overlay the guitar and the release draws to an end.

Overall this was an enjoyable EP, a good first release from an upcoming UK Black Metal project and hopefully the start of a successful career. Plenty of atmosphere and aggression tied well together in a nice Blackened Death Metal package. Definitely worth supporting! -7/10