Slagmaur - Von Rov Shelter
Osmose Productions
Black Metal
7 songs (33:13)
Release year: 2009
Slagmaur, Osmose Productions
Reviewed by James

Even looking at their curious cover art and promotional photos, you can tell there's something odd about Slagmaur. Although traditional black metal iconography is all present and accounted for, it's often juxtaposed with imagery far removed from the usual mountains and forests, often depicting vocalist Aastelgrib in curious poses such as standing by a beach, or even what appears to be teaching a lesson. It all points to a subversion of traditional black metal, and that's exactly what we get on Von Rov Shelter. After oddly titled intro track _ (that's not a typo), which consists of the sort of foreboding strings and theatrical spoken word that goth-prog-metallers Devil Doll would use, we are flung into the pounding groove metal beats and discordant riffs of first song proper Drako Gigant. Although it could perhaps be compared to Deathspell Omega's slower moments, the sound of Von Rov Shelter is somehow unique. Perhaps it's the odd production which manages to be every bit as cold as classic 90s black metal, without sounding anything like it in any way. The riffs are deliberately muddy and unrefined, often intertwined with throbbing indistinct background noise (just check the end of Fantom Eks Speriment). The drums pound away insistently, sucked dry of any warmth to create an almost industrial feel. And yet, there's no display of outright weirdness anywhere on Von Rov Shelter. Instead, there's a general sense of unease throughout, the feeling that all is not well. Lange Knivers Natt breaks down at the end into a deathmarch drum beat and low, sinister chanting, and the effect is nothing less than menacing.

But although Von Rov Shelter looks great on paper, and the band have bags of atmosphere, but as a listening experience it doesn't quite work. It's probably the fact that all the songs sound pretty much the same, and it's only flashes of variety such as the orchestration on Klokker Tramp that stop it from being near-identical all the way through. The formula of thudding industrial drumming and wonky-sounding riffs is a good one, but Slagmaur seem too content to rest on their laurels and let their formula do the work for them, rather than attempting to write songs, and at times you'll swear you've heard the riffs in previous songs. Weirdly, the band have a knack for writing outros, of all things, every track ending on a fine note. But they seem to use the same techniques in getting there, and the constant mid-paced pounding creates the feeling that the songs never quite kick into any distinct gear that separates them from the others. And before you know it final track Ramaskrik has drawn to a close, and you're really left with no sense of satisfaction. It's certainly not a bad album, but there's really very little of merit outside the band's sense of atmosphere. There's potential here, of course, but only if Slagmaur bother to write actual songs and add somewhat to their bag of tricks. And for a band on their third album, that's really something they should have done some time ago. If you're really, really into atmospheric, faintly industrial black metal (and let's face it, there's a lot about, though none quite like Slagmaur) this is probably worth ago, but for the majority it'll just be too one-note.

Killing Songs :
All or none, depending on your opinion.
James quoted 63 / 100
Other albums by Slagmaur that we have reviewed:
Slagmaur - Svin reviewed by Goat and quoted 71 / 100
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