I wouldn’t blame you for having the thought in the back of your mind for giving Slidhr’s album a miss based solely on the fact black metal has become rather over-saturated with copycats and generally uninteresting bands. I hear the pitchforks raising already so allow me to stress that I adore black metal, it being one of my favoured subgenres of extreme metal, but I really have fallen out of touch with recent acts over the last five years. This is due to them being so dependant on the innovations of their forebearers, with more bands relying on that style instead of innovating and creating a style of their own. It leaves somewhat of a husk – aesthetically pleasing material without the individuality to give it life or the ability to resonate in any way. Allow me to attempt an argument in Slidhr’s favour though, because there are several things they do right that other bands simply can’t seem to get a grasp on. For example, Aosoth from France have such an alluring, opaque sound, but just don’t have the composing and organizational skills to back it up. Deathspell Omega have a brilliant style of dissonant, chaotic riffs, but unfortunately it’s a sound that can tire out very quickly for some listeners and become gimmicky. Then you have more forward-thinking bands such as Woe (US) that have interesting instrumentation and approach to black metal, but forgoe dark atmospherics. Slidhr doesn’t only seem to be aware of the things these bands do correctly, but also what these bands do wrong and they intertwine every aspect of modern black metal without any apparent blunders to speak of. Mix the good points, fix the bad points and bam – Deluge by Slidhr. Mind you, that analysis comes across as rather trivial, and there is certainly more to this album than taking what other bands do. First and foremost Slidhr appear to be orthodox black metal with a slightly dissonant vein, very much reminiscent of European modern black metal, but other things become apparent as the album unravels that mark them as something else. Notable is the reserve this band exercize – even the loudest and most chaotic parts are handled with equal amounts of intensity and grace. None of the organizational skills get lost in translation through the intense pacing of the blackened tones; a common pothole in modern black metal. Couple this with the fact there’s some commendable layering on this album just waiting to be unravelled, along with how subtly it’s handled. I’ve always been one to reward a band for refusing to rest on their laurels and wearing their achievements on their sleeves.
As for individual tracks, a great achievement of this dense ten-track record is that none of these tracks really resemble each other past the natural similarities that come with black metal territory. The structures of the tracks constantly waver as do the performances. The drums rarely stick to simply carrying the song’s energy and the guitars often intertwine riffs together, often making it difficult to decipher them without repeated listens. Some of the tracks even have subtle samples that add a lot of weight and personality to them – and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if you missed them on the first play through, especially considering the opaque, dense and unforgiving style of production and playing. Yet for something so opaque and dark, it’s unusually clear. Deluge is a chaotic yet unusually organized and immaculate record. The name of the album would signify more of a huge, massive, in-your-face affair, but Deluge is far more focussed, less sudden and more inclined to reward patience and focus. It rewards on many levels due to instant, immediate appeal, enough layers to unravel and diversity to tap into to make repeated listens just as enlightening as the first. Couple this with stellar production and you’re onto quite the winning combination that many black metal acts these days unfortunately starve us of. There’s absolutely no innovation beyond the transformations and refinement of well-known conventions, but much of what Slidhr does right would be lost if there were. Deluge is a well-rounded, well-executed modern black metal album that any fan of the genre will find enjoyment in.
We are pleased to announce that SLIDHR, one of Ireland/Iceland's premier Black Metal entities, has renewed its bond with Debemur Morti Productions for the follow up to 2018's "The Futile Fires Of Man".
The forthcoming record bears the title of "White Hart!" and is an intense trip into some of the most immersive misanthropy Black Metal music has to offer. Composer Joseph Deegan allows us a sneak peek at what's to come:
"I would describe our Art's aura as deeply honest and heartfelt. My blood boils with contempt for so much of this world that it can sometimes be difficult to focus on anything else. Thankfully I can channel these emotions into a creative endeavor such as this album. In the oversaturated pantomime that is today's Black Metal scene it can be near impossible to find sincerity. Whatever you may think of SLIDHR, just know that the passion is genuine.
Concerning the new album, you can expect a far more aggressive offering this time: full of passion, hate, venom and honesty. Most of the material was written between 2018 and 2019 and the recording process actually started a couple of years ago, but we only recorded our individual parts when the inspiration was strong and the fire was burning – particularly regarding the vocals, the passion needed to be high. Luckily, however, there has been a seemingly endless supply of fuel for what needed to be a spiteful performance. We live in interesting times…"
This announcement date was not chosen by chance: exactly ten years ago - on 24th May 2013 - we unleashed "Deluge", SLIDHR's world-darkening debut. Joseph recalls:
"The "Deluge" album holds some great memories. To begin with it was the first SLIDHR release that Bjarni played on and he has been such a huge part of what became 'our sound' on all the recordings that followed. Listening back, I still like what we did on that release. It was a bit of a departure from the first couple of recordings, but in a positive way. Of course, there are always things you would do differently in hindsight but that's how it should be I suppose."
To honor this important release from the formative years of DMP, the fifth part of our Vault series is dedicated to SLIDHR's exceptional debut album. Formed in 2005 and hailing from Dublin, Ireland, SLIDHR is one of the country's most baneful Black Metal entities. The band's name derives from the Sliðr, a river flowing through Hel, the land of the dead in Norse mythology - a moniker which befits a powerhouse of the netherworld. Founded as a solo project by the uniquely creative artist, tattooist and bassist/guitarist/vocalist Joseph Deegan, the band has prioritised quality over quantity throughout their discography. In 2006 – three years after launching DMP - we joined forces with SLIDHR for the cassette release of their debut, "Demo 1", a 15-minute introduction to orchestrated madness. During its short runtime, the demo accomplished more than many far-lengthier releases in a display of exceptional songwriting and dense, crushing soundscapes from an act that arrived fully formed. Today marks a special moment in DMP history: 10 years to the day that DMP released "Deluge", SLIDHR's first full-length album. By this point featuring revered Icelandic drummer Bjarni Einarsson (SINMARA, ALMYRKVI), the band takes a familiar no-prisoners approach. First track 'Wielding Daggers' opens with a minute-long muted build-up until the listener is hit by a radical shift, a bass-driven blast which clutches your throat and does not release grip for the almost-50-minute runtime. "Deluge" is organised chaos at its finest – each instrument strategically interlinked to create an enigmatic, harsh and iron-hearted atmosphere. Songs are an organic, all-encompassing tour-de-force built up from layers of sinister angular riffs and melodies, hellacious vocals and ever-changing tempos and moods. SLIDHR's compelling instrumental performances are amplified by production choices which enhance the album, giving balance to each instrument to ensure listener immersion. The progression of the album is also noteworthy: "Deluge" commences at a consistent pace, each track heightening a fiercely dark and suffocating atmosphere as they build towards closing piece, 'Rays Like Blades', which perfectly completes the record, highlighting all its strengths and leaving the listener wanting more. Following the release of "Deluge" SLIDHR released a subsequent EP, two split releases and in 2018 a second full-length "The Futile Fires Of Man" via Ván Records. Recently SLIDHR's line-up has been expanded to feature Stefan Dietz on bass for the recordings of "White Hart!", it appears the best is yet to come.
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