KVAEN has been the underground’s darling for a while now. Needless to say, yours truly is a fan of the previous two albums, where KVAEN showcases speed, durability, heaviness, and exceptional songwriting that combines the best of old and new Black Metal. I think I speak for many when I say the expectations for The Formless Fire are huge, and the mightiest band from Kalix (the North of the North) has a monumental task ahead of it. However, this has been a good year for unrealistic expectations, so let’s keep it going, ok?
The Formless Fire is a journey through the history of Swedish Black Metal. It features strong melodic influences from Dissection and Naglfar, the mystery of Watain, the speed of Hellbutcher, and a unique take on common subjects that is 100% KVAEN. While it’s not something entirely new, it’s definitely bigger and better than before. I know it might sound like reviewers get bribed (I wish!), but sometimes bands do progress from album to album, and KVAEN has shown that. The band keeps adding depth to its sound. Despite being “just” Black Metal with Melodic Death Metal touches, The Formless Fire is full of epic emotions that will make you feel like you’re crossing a tundra in the middle of a snowstorm as your torch dies off, but not your resolve.
It’s an empowering listen that makes you feel the drama of old Heavy Metal days, thanks mostly to the breathtaking guitar work here. It left me in awe. For the dismay of the boomers, we live in the post-solo era, but fear not because The Formless Fire has so many tasty solos that it’ll give you hope for the rotten future (for example, “Basilisk” and “The Perpetual Darkness”). And for the Gen-Z and millennials, this album can teach us how to write “not so postmodern”(nothing wrong with that, but don’t you want a break? I do!) Metal like pros. It’s not complicated or dense; it’s eclectic extreme Metal that could be enjoyed by almost any Metalhead—except those who can’t stand harsh vocals (weak!). You know what time it is… we have to put down that fire somehow!
Honestly, there’s not much to dislike in The Formless Fire. Perhaps it’s not as Prog as every album seems to be these days, which can be refreshing—I’m getting sick of 80-minute long albums (I have a life!). Also, I’m not sure if the clean vocals click all that well with me. However, they’re slightly buried in the mix, so it’s not a big deal. For once, I’d say aggressive production helps the atmosphere of an album. A final and probably the most nitpicking point I’ve ever made in a review: I’d invert the order of the last two tracks because “The Perpetual Darkness” is so epic that it should close the album. But this is just a detail; the album is short and perfect in length as it is.
If KVAEN decided to retire tomorrow, it could ride into the sunset happy, having had one of the best album runs a band has had in the last 10 years. The Formless Fire is a worthy successor in the long and sometimes controversial Nordic tradition of extreme Metal. I can put this album on at least 20 times in a row and not get bored. You see, bands that love 70-minute epics? You get more listens if people don’t need to ask for a day off work to listen to your album. KVAEN could give a lesson or two on editing. Those are my two cents.
Label: Metal Blade Records
Release date: 21 June, 2024
Website: https://www.facebook.com/OFFICIALKVAEN
Country: Sweden
Score: An eternal fire in the dark, or 4.0/5.0 for the oldies
Metal Eclipse Reviews 