KOLDBRANN / TILINTETGJORT – Den Klandestine Kjerne / Eons in Oblivion

RELEASE YEAR: 2026
BAND URL: https://koldbrann.bandcamp.com/album/den-klandestine-kjerne-eons-in-oblivion

I hardly ever review singles as life is just too short for that kind of thing, but once in a while one has to make an exception to the rule – a case in point being this split 7-inch vinyl featuring two brand-new and deeply unnverving tracks by two of my favorite Norwegian black metal outfits, namely Koldbrann and Tilintetgjort.

Koldbrann deliver one of their most atmospheric and disquiting compositions to date in the shape of “Den Klandestine Kjerne,” which is arguably even darker than most of their previous song material. As raw and unpolished as one could have expected, yet somehow more brooding and mesmerizing than anything that Mannevond and his lousy friends have ever conjured up, this is downright sinister and relentlessly misanthropic stuff propelled forwards by strong riffs, nasty vocals, and an underlying aura of degradation and despair. Like I said, this one stands out in Koldbrann’s discography as it contains an unforgettable and compelling vibe.

Tilintetgjort is a unique entity whose debut offering from 2023 blew yours truly away. Utterly disturbing yet experimental and transcendental, it took the Norwegian black metal blueprint and transformed it into something almost grotesquely Lovecraftian in nature that excited and unsettled the metal underground. Harsh beyond words yet riddled with subtle nuances and layers, “Eons in Oblivion” is fierce, blistering, and eerie as hell, and their signature sound is all over it, which is obviously a great thing. It conjures up the idea and vision of a monstrous horror from the hidden depths of the world, and I could hardly have asked for more as that is exactly how I like my black metal. The memorable and efficient riffs wield their wicked magic here.