ALBUM REVIEW: Ondskapt – Grimoire Ordo Devus

Swedish Black Metal legends ONDSKAPT return with their 4th album of ritualistic extremity. Out via Osmose Productions on November 27th.

Beginning the album is an ambient prelude that sets a dark and mysterious tone for the Black Metal assault ahead. Utilising a minimal and unnerving approach, there is no question this is going to be a dark and ritualistic affair. Icy guitars and pummelling drums set a scathing and vicious pace of gloriously mid-tempo melodies that cascade stunningly with roaring screams. Storming forth with victorious and yet melancholic ideas entwined in a haunting yet savage manner, Ondskapt have returned on top form with their unique and potent variety of Swedish Black Metal. The battery of blastbeats and ferocious riffing ebbs and flows with the more dreary sections to create a brooding atmosphere of volatility and emotive incantations.

Spectral apparitions continue to formulate as the swaying waltz of abyssal soundscapes contorts into a superb ritual that will chill anyone to the core whom seek this mystical and beautiful opus. Unlike their contemporaries in the Swedish Black Metal scene, Ondskapt use a somewhat more progressive and diverse palette of sounds to concoct a sparse and discordant sense of morbidity that accentuates the more barbaric sections while tainting the soul with a far more obscure feeling of darkness. Contemplative ambience interludes the ravenous attack, leaving time to truly become absorbed by the record and its temple of demonic spectres that will stick with you even after the music ends. The occasional cleaner howls add a really daunting and memorable side to the vocals as the screams ascend with the soaring instrumentals into a magnificent glowing aura of excellence.

Naturally longer Black Metal records often fall into the trap of becoming repetitive or dull. Ondskapt however uses their fearsome arsenal of gargantuan instrumentals with monoliths of melody to offer something special. There is no lack of progression or new ideas yet there is a sincere and strong presence that makes it clear the band are sticking to their guns and not diverting from their Luciferian pathways, thankfully. Packing a tight punch with a huge production and monstrous instrumental performances underlining the bestial invocations of the vocalist, there is no denying this band has grown into a juggernaut of occultist phenomena. Devilishly scolding, the beauty of the album is in the nuance and taking the time to dissect the sounds happening to unveil the message and meaning within. Of course on the surface this is still some amazing Black Metal, but there is far more to “Grimoire Ordo Devus” than first meets the ear.

Ondskapt’s newest offering is potent, bold and striking with a harmonious balance of melody, barbaric aggression, ambience and ritualistic atmospheres. This occult tome of Swedish Black Metal brilliance is truly devastating with its resplendent yet aggressive soundscapes that deserve your devoted attention. -8/10