Sorgsvart - Vikingtid Og AnArki

Published April 24 2008

*=Staff's pick	Vikingtid og AnAnarki* Vikingtid og AnAnarki (Instrumental) Hedersmann Trøst Bleivikmaen Ein Haglandsfaen* Opp Kamerat!* Kråkaviso Underligt Vidunderligt*

Genre	Black Metal	Sorg	Vocals
Tracks	8	Sorg	Guitar
Runningtime	60 Min.	-	Guitar
Label	Einheit Produktionen	Sorg	Bass
Release	20 March 2008	Sorg	Drums
Country	Norway	Sorg	Keyboard
Similar artists	Einherjer, Enslaved, Borknagar

True Norwegian AnArchistic Black Metal. Not my words but rather the words used to promote the one-man show called Sorgsvart. The band, or rather one-man band, was founded in 1999 and Vikingtid Og Anarki is the second album from this black metal outfit courtesy of the main-man Sorg. The songs on the album were written between 2002 and 2007, but even though there is a time span between the songs, it is nothing that can be heard on the album.

Sorg handles most on the album himself and he is not afraid to make sure that his songs are of a complex structure. The album starts with an epic track, which is also the title track, and it is not very listener friendly to open an album with more than eleven minutes of black metal frenzy. Nevertheless, the track is perfect as an introduction to the works of Sorg as it incorporates more or less every element he uses in his music. The music is black metal, and even if I would not rank Sorgsvart as traditional black metal, I would surely say that there is no doubt that it is the origin. The music is filled with inspiration from other paths apart from the black metal and I really like that he has the good taste to incorporate many melodic elements. The acoustic interlude in the title track throws at least my thoughts toward the bards of metal, Blind Guardian. There is an apparent touch of folk music that creates an atmospheric ambience and you are also being served obvious traces of Viking metal.

It is varied black metal that includes old traditional norwegian instruments that further gives it all a nice blend and in my opinion, the album hold up very well musically, and it is well performed as well. Yet another epic track is Bleivikmaen Ein Haglandsfaen, which is even longer than the title track and it includes melodies that are true metal anthems, moreover it is cheerful and inspires with courage yet holds a fair share of aggression. The album is pending between aggressive and calmer music that is more emotional, and the tempo also varies with slow and really fast paces, and it is when the speed increases the quality decreases. That is when it becomes obvious that the vocals lack a bit of depth in the growls, and tend to be more of the desperate cry kind of voice. With the clean vocal parts it works fine and you can find somewhat resemblances to Vintersorg, but way more unpolished. Moreover, you can draw some small musical references between bands Vintersorg has been involved with and Sorgsvart. Perhaps that is why I find that the track Trøst is my favourite on the album, an instrumental track with repeated riffing lead-guitar, nicely accompanied by piano.

The album would have been in favour if the length of some tracks had been kept shorter and sometimes it feels like the will within the music is stronger than what the capability to perform is. However, there is nothing wrong with the creativity and Sorgsvart is a band that I do not regret I got acquainted with. The potential is strong in Sorg, although it could use a bit more polish.

Performance	Originality	Production	Vocals	Songwriting
7	7	4	3	5

Summary
5 chalices of 10 - Thomas