It’s been a while since we’ve tackled a proper dose of raw Black Metal – the kind that makes you want to rip your hair out and sends your cat scrambling under the bed. Normally, we let those rancid “true kvlt” promos pass by unnoticed, but every so often, something slithers out of the void that’s just too interesting to ignore. Enter Robust – Robust (yes, the album is as sturdy as its name suggests). Think the name lacks edge? Don’t worry, because this is about to plunge straight into the abyss.
Robust is Post-Black Metal dredged up from the sewers, forged in blood, sorrow, and futility. It’s the sonic embodiment of decadence with no redemption in sight—exactly the kind of punishing, masochistic nonsense that you, the deranged lunatic reading this, crave. There are fleeting moments of catharsis, but make no mistake: this album will make you suffer more than most. At least the tracks aren’t hour-long dirges—save for “Feather Key,” a song that somehow made me both love and despise this album in equal measure, simply because it wrings out every last drop of emotional turmoil.
That’s the defining trait of Robust: it refuses to let you stay indifferent. Whether it’s awe or outright revulsion, this thing will claw some kind of reaction out of you. A huge part of its unsettling charm comes from the production—or lack thereof. The musicianship is clearly competent, the riffs are well-constructed, but everything’s smothered in what I can only describe as a cardboard-and-VHS aesthetic. Strip that away, and Robust might’ve been just another forgettable Post-Black Metal release. Instead, we’re left with something genuinely weird—and that’s worth something.
Now, as conflicted as I am about certain aspects of Robust, the real polarizing factor will be the vocals (quack!). It’s not that they’re unbearable—it’s that they’re completely unhinged. There were moments I wondered if the vocals were even meant to be intelligible or if they were just another dissonant instrument in the mix, Pan.Thy.Monium-style. That’s fine by me, but the relentless shrieking can test your patience, especially in the longer, more experimental tracks. Consider this an “acquired taste”—or, if you’re “tvre” enough to have gone weeks without showering, you’ll probably find it perfectly normal.
Yes, I cover all flavors of Metal, including these niche releases for the diehards. Robust is far from perfect—I’m certain the soggy-cardboard production will send 80% of listeners running for the hills. But the remaining 20%? They’ll be hunched in their moldy basements, letting this album fester in their ears as they watch the black spores creep across the walls (and if you do have black mold, for the love of Satan, burn it now). For me, Robust was a fascinating detour into territory I don’t usually explore—flawed, but undeniably crafted with grim intent.
The vocals are something else, for real!
Label: Ván Records/Terratur Possesions
Release date: April 8, 2025
Website: https://van-records.com/Robust-s-t-12-LP_1
Country: Norway!
Score: 3.0/5.0 to honor old Gorgoroth!
Metal Eclipse Reviews 