Skald in Veum is a mystery to me. Trying to find anything on their history is a bit of a chore. It’s like they emerged from the shadows of an abandoned, smoldering tabernacle, wielding guitars and drumsticks, accompanied by a fearsome thunderstorm. Skald in Veum’s new EP, 1260 Days, is intense. Take a dash of holy water, a chainsaw, a .50 caliber machine gun, gasoline, shake it all up, light it on fire and hurl it into a crowd of godless metal heads. From start to finish, they pound you with extremely tight Scandinavian black metal, haunted with the vocals of vocalist Mund. It’s all wrapped up solidly and forged into a consecrated weapon of mass destruction. Growling lead vocals, eerie background screams and ghoulish ambiance reign among the tempestuous drums and guitars, really give you the feel of a fantastic, live-sounding recording. Their dynamics are impeccable; just when you have had enough, they slow it down, bringing you into a somber rhythm before allowing it all to be stripped away with the tide, slamming on the gas pedal to propel you straight into a wall of brutally distorted, well-timed turbulence. If you are metal hungry and looking for a new, dark sound that is heavy, dark and fast with a positive message, Skald in Veum’s 1260 Days should light your pants on fire.
