EP REVIEW: Dødsferd – Skotos

Greek Black Metal duo DØDSFERD return with a new EP, featuring two tracks of their emotive extremity. Out via Transcending Obscurity Records on May 14th.

Diving straight in with a bombardment of blastbeats, including some excellent cymbal work and a storm of mighty and yet melancholic riffing that is chilling yet triumphant, the instrumental side of Dødsferd wastes not a second in delivering a monstrous foundation for the eerie vocals to cut through with hateful snarls. This is far less akin to most Greek Black Metal, a scene Dødsferd has never really fit into, father taking more apparent influence from Scandinavia, Finland and Germany in their sombre yet brutish approach to the dark arts. The most obvious critique which I will not dwell on more the necessary is perhaps this material feels less original and unique than the fantastic last LP “Diseased Remnants Of A Dying God” which was a hugely dynamic, emotional listen. Here we see much more typical Black Metal, though I must say executed in magnificent fashion with a glorious production and some excellent ideas. I am hoping they will utilise the aggression on this EP with the previously seen juxtapositions that made their sound such a special one and deliver the next album as their strongest yet. Meanwhile, this is a killer EP of very well-executed and monstrously intense Black Metal in a far more stripped-back style.

This EP is a fantastic example of some of the more aggressive Dødsferd material that fans of 90s Nordic Black Metal will definitely appreciate, as will those with a penchant for melancholy and melody alike. I have kept this review short, as one must limit themselves when reviewing 11 minute of music, but I do encourage fans of the aforementioned styles to give this one a spin as it will satisfy fans of the bands and convince newcomers equally.