Skorbvstr/Hedensk/Snow Wolf Records/2021 EP Review

 

  Skorbvstr  are  a  solo  project  from  Kentucky  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  raw  and  lo-fi  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  ep  "Hedensk"  which  was  released  by  Snow  Wolf  Records.

  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  demo  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  lo-fi  musical  direction.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  programmed  along  with  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  guitar  leads  being  done  in  a  very  distorted  style  when  they  are  utilized,  some  of  the  distorted  parts  also  add  in  touches  of  noise.

  On  this  recording  Skorbvstr  remains  true  to  to  raw  and  lo-fi  style  of  black  metal  that  he  had  established  on  his  previous  demo.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  song  titles  are  written  in  Norwegian  and  the  lyrics  focus  on  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Skorbvster  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  and  lo-fi  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Besokende"  and  "Konge  Skummelt".  8  out  of  10.

  Bandcamp  

Skorbvster Interview

 

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the musical project?

I primarily play in another band and Skorbvstr was a solo concept album I conceived. I wanted to create something without mine or my band's name attached to it and put it out into the world just to see what would happen. I wrote and recorded the entire thing over a weekend, most of it in one night. 

It's a raw as I could make it. 

2.In November you have an ep coming out, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style you went for on the recording?

I wanted to capture all of the feelings this insane year has brought upon the world. Cold. Raw emotion. Tension. Isolation. Despair. Monotony. Darkness. Uncertainty. Sickness. The cold and raw emotion comes through pretty clearly in the overall sound. The isolation is represented in the solo environment it was recorded in. The monotony is represented by every song being structured the exact same. Each song starts out with the same tension before either going fast and then slow, or slow and then fast. It all needed a very powerful sound to translate the weight we have all felt this year.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you have explored so far with the music?

Basically everything I stated above. A great mix of everything dark, raw, and heavy. 

 

4.You also translate the song titles into Norwegian, what was the decision behind using this language?

I wanted everything to have an authentic coldness to it. So I took descriptions that had a powerful sound to them and translated them to the mother tongue of second wave black metal. Most things are in English these days and you have an idea of the songs intentions and lyrics before you even hear it just by looking at the titles. I didn't want that. I wanted mystery. I wanted mood. I wanted the listener to decide for themselves.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Skorbvster'?

It's an inside phrase among my circle that basically means breaking down the norms. Trying to topple the established prize at the end of everything and achieve something different. Busting the score.  

6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the ep cover?

The artwork is a picture I took in the Netherlands earlier this year. It's taken from the middle of a bridge and you can see the river at the bottom in the middle. 

7.With this project you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo?

This is going to remain a solo outlet since I have a band already. The band works together when creating but I wanted something with total control. It can be a mixture of anything I want. Fast, slow, mid paced, powerful, raw, melodic, whatever the song calls for. As experimental as I'm feeling.

8.The physical version is coming out on 'Snow Wolf Records', how did you get in contact with this label?

I'm in Kentucky and that label is based here so it made sense. I reached out to some others and didn't have any luck. I wanted everything to be completely DIY with the packaging and not many labels would go for something like that. 

9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?

The jury is still out on that one. This is the first release. Hoping people will see something different in it and give it a unique rating or description. I look forward to a new reaction than what I've gotten with other projects, be it better or worse. 

10.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?

I will keep playing with my band and keep Skorbvstr as a solo project for when I come up with other ideas for concept albums. I hope to eventually achieve something different. Bust the score, so to speak.   

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

I tend to mostly listen to the classics with black metal but I also listen to a lot of other genres. Whatever is a good mix of mood and melody. 

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Thank you for doing this and giving positive support to the black metal underground. People can count on you for consistent reviews that encourage readers to seek out the music and the specific things about it that you recommend and find enjoyable. Skorbvstr is an artistic and conceptual project that I hope your readers will take a chance on. 

https://skorbvstr.bandcamp.com/releases

Skorbvster/Sakte Fort Veldig Kraftig/Snow Wolf Records/2020 EP Review

 

  Skorbvster  are  a  solo  project  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  lo-fi  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2020  ep  "Sakte  Forte  Veldig  Kraftig"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Snow  Wolf  Records.

  A  very  dark  and  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  ep  before  going  into  a  very  fast,  raw  and  lo-fi  direction  which  also  utilizes  a great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  a  small  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  

  The  songs  also  mix  in  a  decent  amount  of  90's  to  early  2000's  influences  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts. All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  the  music  also  adding  in  a  touch  of  noise  at  times,  when  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  and  all  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.

  Skorbvster  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  raw  and  lo-fi  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Norwegian  and  cover  dark  themes  along  with  some  of  the  words  being  translated  from  one  of  my  reviews  into  a  different  language.

In  my  opinion  Skorbvster  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  lo-fi  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Veldig  Morkt  Men  Tungt"  and  "Mest  Dystre".  8  out  of  10.

https://skorbvstr.bandcamp.com/releases