There’s something truly special about the way BESVÄRJELSEN blend heaviness, melody and melancholy.
The Band jokingly describe their sound as “Forest Rock”, and with their third album Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem, it becomes clearer than ever that these Swedes have carved out their very own place somewhere between Doom, Stoner, Psychedelic and Heavy Rock. Four years after "Atlas", the quintet around the incredible Lea Amling Alazam is back – and damn, what a comeback!
From the very first notes of “The Greatest Sin”, the band pulls you straight into its world with a massive riff, a melancholic atmosphere and a chorus that simply sticks. “Accelerating Hearts” then kicks things up a notch, turning into one of the album’s absolute highlights with its fantastic hooks. Fred Burman from SATAN TAKES A HOLIDAY adds his voice to the track, creating some great extra dynamics alongside Lea. “Battles” follows with another highly catchy chorus, while “Counting Flies” brings the Doom influence much further to the front.
For me, though, the real heart of the album is “Drifters On A Quiet Stream”. A beautifully dreamy and melancholic song that initially feels almost fragile, before slowly building and eventually exploding into a fantastic mixture of Fuzz, melody and atmosphere. This is where BESVÄRJELSEN show that heavy music doesn’t always have to be dark and hopeless.
“The Mountain” puts the weight straight back on, while “Pulse” moves between floating passages and powerful guitars. The short “Interlude” never feels unnecessary, instead perfectly setting the stage for “Didn’t Come To Party” – a filthy, driving rocker featuring Fred Burman once again. “Black Wave” adds another layer of darkness, with the organ played by LOWRIDER’s Pelle Andersson giving the song an especially cool vibe.
And then there is “Oblivion”. A beautiful, quiet and deeply melancholic finale that doesn’t end the album with a huge bang, but leaves you with goosebumps instead.
What BESVÄRJELSEN have created here is so much more than just great Stoner Doom. "Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem" lives from fantastic melodies, strong songwriting, an incredible voice and that very special Nordic melancholy running through the entire album. The Swedes have refined their sound without polishing away what makes it special – and that’s exactly what makes this record so damn good.
For me, this is already a very serious contender for the Album of the Year.
-Helge Neumann
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