Band: VALDAUDR
Country: Norway
Title: Drapsdalen
Label: Soulseller Records
Year: 2021
Style: Thrash Black Metal
Review:
This debut album by Valdaudr dropped shortly before Blood Red Throne announced they signed with Nuclear Blast and are going to release a new album later in the year. What is the connection between the two? Well, Valdaudr was founded as Cobolt 60 by Blood Red Throne's guitarist Daniel Olaisen, but since the band changed vocalist in 2018, it also changed moniker, a very correct approach I'd say. We'll see how the current status of Blood Red Throne will affect the work on Valdaudr, but in the meantime here we have its debut album, a 7 tracks effort clocking almost 40 minutes of playing time, Thrashing Black Metal with some Pagan Metal influences here and there that give an epic, melodic edge though the overall impression is of a clearly '90's cold Norwegian Black Metal. The production is totally organic and somehow raw but still crystal clear, and even though the band is a duo, they got a drummer Rune Nesse (Taake – live) as guess and he delivers, oh man he delivers. The riffage is absolutely perfect for all trv kult Black Metal followers, and the vocals are so abrasive they take the morbid atmosphere to another level, reminding of Mayhem to be honest. The best thing about it in my opinion is its versatility, its ability to blend in different rhythms and approaches into an atmosphere that reeks of old-school Norwegian Black Metal, that's why I think if the band will continue to deliver, it will become a standard-bearer in the scene; yes, this debut is that good, but keep in mind it doesn't come with a modern production, it keeps things rough and raw.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10