NYRST – V​ö​ld

The Icelandic black metal force known as Nyrst blew me away by means of their tightly executed debut offering from 2020 titled Orsök, which was also released by the consistently brilliant people at Dark Essence Records. It goes without saying that I had high expectations for Völd and I was neiter let down nor disappointed – pretty fucking far from it.

Released late last year and featuring some utterly stunning artwork, the seven compositions that make up this uniquely layered strike of pitch-black genius contain an underlying eeriness and are performed with conviction, vigor, and aggression. Nyrst expertly guide us through a rough terrain filled with terrors, monstrosities, bone-chilling winds, and crushing defeat at the hands of nature, but there is a vague glimmer of a dark and strange beauty to be detected within the maelstrom of intense riffing, icy atmospheres, and labyrinthine arrangements too. Pretty much everything about this output rules and I am forever grateful to the label for handing me a CD copy as the layout and visual presentation of the deadly effort truly are things to be cherished and savored – as is the music, of course. And did I mention that the vocals are varied and absolutely magnificent? Check ‘Sundra Skal Sálu’ out if you do not believe me. Essential and stately stuff from top to bottom.