HEIMLAND – Der Torv Moeter Hav

RELEASE YEAR: 2025
BAND URL: https://ffm.to/vagrantheimland

Fresh off a successful tour with Taake and Asagraum, the purveyors of melancholy Norwegian black metal known as Heimland unleash yet another impressive, emotionally charged torrent of well-composed material that reeks of longing and desolation. Edged Circle Productions undoubtedly have a keen ear for quality metal with soul, passion, and longevity to it, and Heimland’s upcoming opus is a perfect example of that.

Harsh and unfiltered without ever losing sight of what constitutes an excellent riff and a brilliant melody, these chaps have consistently honed their particular brand of morose black metal and sharpened their claws and skills with respect to songwriting and arrangements and nowhere is that more evident than throughout the eight epic tracks that constitute this record. Nothing is being reinvented here, there is no trace of innovation to be discerned, and from a purely musical perspective Heimland employ (and make super use of) many of the trademarks and characteristics that one associated with the more traditional 90s variant of Scandinavian black metal, but what sets them apart from their peers is the thick, impenetrable atmosphere of deep-seated yearning that courses through every single fiber of the whole affair. The strong emotional pull is simply undeniable and there is a moving, nay, haunting, aura of darkness and anguish that constantly simmers underneath the entire piece of work. A sterling example of what this group has to offer is “Mann Maner Maane,” which is a sorrow-filled excursion into the past and a uniquely shaped world of sound in which windswept shores, lonely fields, grey skies, mournful villagers, isolated communities, and a pervading sense of loss exist side by side.

If that darkly romantic and bone-chilling beautiful album artwork courtesy of J.C. Dahl does not lure you in, you might want to consider consulting an optician. Fans of Taake and Orkan should definitely make a note of this LP.