Gjendød "Hevn!" Cassette

Descripción GJENDØD from Trondheim is a trio of not-so-young men with years of experience in various styles ranging from rock to dark metal. They devote themselves with audible passion to the country's own brand of black metal and have already recorded quite a few records in a relatively short period of time. On their sixth demo, "Hevn!", the Norwegians interpret a classic by Manes and Mysticum and also present us with two original compositions worth listening to.
Norwegian black metal is known to be more than just music, but with GJENDØD, the focus is on precisely that craftsmanship, and their performance on "Hevn!" leaves absolutely no doubt about their dexterity or their sense of the drama inherent in the style. And there's no question that many bands would be seriously overstretched by Mysticum's "Kingdom Comes" and Manes' "Uten liv ligger lands øde," but GJENDØD master their re-recordings of these classics with bravura, or more precisely, with sound-realized dissonance, coldness, and melancholy.
The largely fast-paced and strongly arranged original compositions "De smelter…" and "Hevn!" offer the finest black metal in the style of Ulver's "Bergtatt," with grimly snarled vocals and great bass playing. Harsh guitar riffs and dense drumming drift through the dark undergrowth, surrounded by a touch of epicness. It's remarkable that three veterans of the scene demonstrate how resilient traditional Norwegian black metal can still sound in the 2020s.
The demo, featuring a troll-like illustration on the cover, has so far been released on cassette. Since Osmose Productions is re-releasing several of GJENDØD's previous recordings on vinyl, CD, and tape in spring 2024, there's perhaps hope that the French label will also take on "Hevn!".
CONCLUSION: Anyone who wants to know how resilient traditional Norwegian underground black metal with that certain something sounds in the 2020s can hardly ignore "Hevn!", as GJENDØD score points with both their original compositions and their formidable cover versions almost three decades after the legendary era of the pioneers.
Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5Dowi0X2J0&t=867s