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Album Review – Qwälen / Veri Virtaa Edelleen (2026)

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This ruthless Finnish Black Metal horde returns with their third opus, delving into the rottenness of human reality, the abolition of kings and gods, and the bleak, habitual cycle of fraternal violence.

Blood continues to flow as Veri Virtaa Edelleen (or “the blood still flows” in English), the third statement by Oulu, Finland-based Black Metal horde Qwälen, delves into the rottenness of human reality, the abolition of kings and gods, and the bleak, habitual cycle of fraternal violence, concepts that mean nothing to the band, and yet embody everything they express. Tracked and mixed by Mikael Neves at Waiting Room Recording Studio, mastered by  Jack Control at Enormous Door, and with a sinister artwork and layout by the always formidable Jussi Pohjanen, the new beast by vocalist Eetu Viita, guitarists Samuli Similä and Antti Kannisto, bassist Ville Jylhä, and drummer Henri Kaarre fully embraces the decay of human reality, turning it into a must-listen for fans of the genre.

The melodic guitars by Samuli and Antti ignite the band’s darkened feast in Hunnutettu maa (“the veiled land” from Finnish), before all hell breaks loose to the demented vociferations by Eetu, whereas Matala hauta huutaa (“the shallow grave screams”) sounds absolutely mental form start to finish, presenting a beyond demonic performance by Henri behind his drums. Eerie sounds ignite the just as dark Kahleet (“the shackles”), venturing through Doom Metal lands while keeping the band’s Black Metal core intact; and Henri then invites us all to slam into the pit in Uusi nahka (“new skin”), where Eetu’s infernal vociferations will penetrate deep inside your skin in the name of violent, no shenanigans extreme music.

The band still has a lot of fuel to burn in Veri Virtaa Edelleen, and Kiviä ja luita (“stones and bones”) is a great example of how they can sound modern yet rooted in classic Black Metal, offering a high dosage of Black N’ Roll led by Henri’s striking beats and fills. Then back to a more traditional Black Metal sonority we have Pirujen illallinen (“the devils’ dinner”), with Samuli and Antti once again firing their trademark scorching riffs nonstop; followed by Veri vastaa (“blood answers”), which takes a bit too long to properly kick off, and it doesn’t offer anything truly outstanding in the end despite the band’s efforts. Fortunately, their last breath of demented Black Metal comes in the form of Kuolleet jumalat (“dead gods”), where Henri sounds out of control on drums, providing Eetu with exactly what he needs to gnarl like a creature from the underworld.

Gods live only if we allow them. Death becomes the final insult, the ultimate raised middle finger when all is reduced to rocks and bones – the black serpent within, the black flame of rebellion, and it’s that exact serpent who becomes the centerpoint in Veri Virtaa Edelleen. You can find more details about those Finnish black metallers on Facebook and on Instagram, including their sulfurous live performances, stream their creations on any platform like Spotify, and of course put your damned hands on their new offering by purchasing it from BandCamp or from Time To Kill Records. Because, in the end, Qwälen are exposing the nasty truth about humanity in their newborn opus, and there’s no escape from such a harsh reality. Hail Satan. Blood continues to flow.

Best moments of the album: Matala hauta huutaa, Uusi nahka and Kiviä ja luita.

Worst moments of the album: Veri vastaa.

Released in 2026 Time To Kill Records

Track listing
1. Hunnutettu maa 5:21
2. Matala hauta huutaa 5:00
3. Kahleet 7:19
4. Uusi nahka 3:31
5. Kiviä ja luita 5:17
6. Pirujen illallinen 5:44
7. Veri vastaa 5:48
8. Kuolleet jumalat 6:57

Band members
Eetu Viita -vocals
Samuli Similä – guitars, backing vocals
Antti Kannisto – guitars, backing vocals
Ville Jylhä – bass
Henri Kaarre – drums

Album Review – Mork / Syv (2024)

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The lone wolf Thomas Eriksen strikes again with Mork’s seventh full-length opus, representing the project’s most expressive and diverse works to date.

Following on from vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Thomas Eriksen’s self-titled Udåd project debut earlier this year, the new album by Halden, Norway-based Black Metal entity Mork, entitled Syv, emerges as the new pinnacle of Mork’s and Thomas’ ever-evolving journey, as well as a creative expansion both sonically and compositionally over all prior works, including his 2023 opus Dypet. Recorded and mixed by Thomas himself, with engineering assisted by Freddy Holm (who also contributes with strings and synths), mastered by Maor Appelbaum and Jack Control at Enormous Door, and displaying a visceral artwork by David Thiérrée, Syv also represents Mork’s most expressive and diverse works to date, with exquisite melodies interspersed with brutal and even occasionally progressive riffs amid an ever-present air of melancholy, forming a perfect backdrop for Thomas’ thematic dive through the contemplations of looming mortality, and digressions through the depths and contrasts of human existence.

It takes only a few seconds for Thomas to begin roaring like a demonic creature in the opening tune I tåkens virvel (“in the vortex of the fog”), presenting his trademark riffage and crushing beats in seven minutes of a descent into hell together with this talented Norwegian lone wolf; whereas in Holmgang the strings by guest Freddy Holm give the whole song a more Folk Metal vibe, while Thomas keeps the project’s core essence as blackened as it can be, resulting in a strong tune that should sound amazing if played live (as the band’s live lineup consists of Thomas supported by guitarist Alex Bruun, drummer Daniel Minge, and bassist Øyvind Kaslegard). Heksebål (“witch bonfire”) also follows a similar pattern than the previous song, blending the harshness of Black Metal with the more melodic and ethereal sounds of Folk Metal, with Thomas delivering an amazing performance on drums throughout the entire song; and back to a more visceral, old school Black Metal sonority, Thomas puts the pedal to the metal in Utbrent (“burned out”), with his enraged gnarls and sharp riffs haunting the souls of the lighthearted.

The album continues to spread darkness to our damned hearts in Med døden til følge (“with death to follow”), presenting a more Melodic Black Metal vibe than its predecessors, not to mention it’s an excellent option for some evil headbanging, and it’s time for another Black Metal attack by Thomas entitled Ondt blod (“bad blood”), offering our ears more of his classic Black Metal riffs and beats. Then an obscure start evolves into a massive feast of hammering sounds in Tidens tann (“the ravages of time”), keeping the album at a high level of rage and animosity, followed by Til syvende og sist (“ultimately”), the second to last song of the album, which is just a regular instrumental track that doesn’t add much to the whole experience; flowing into the introspective tune Omme (“about”), an acoustic creation by Thomas where he only uses his clean vocals to give it a more melancholic vibe.

Syv can be savored in full on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course in order to show all your support to Thomas and his alter-ego Mork, you can purchase a copy of the album by clicking HERE or HERE, and also stay updated with all things Mork by following the project on Facebook and on Instagram, including of course their fantastic live performances. After seven sensational full-length albums in the span of only 11 years, I believe we won’t have to wait too long for Thomas to stun us all with another blast of the music by Mork, and when that happens the skies will get dark and we’ll all be embraced by a soothing void once again just like what the music found in Syv can do to our rotten souls, always in the name of top-of-the-line classic and modern-day Norwegian Black Metal.

Best moments of the album: I tåkens virvel, Utbrent and Ondt blod.

Worst moments of the album: Til syvende og sist.

Released in 2024 Peaceville Records

Track listing
1. I tåkens virvel 7:14
2. Holmgang 4:27
3. Heksebål 5:41
4. Utbrent 6:15
5. Med døden til følge 5:49
6. Ondt blod 4:05
7. Tidens tann 5:55
8. Til syvende og sist 5:30
9. Omme 4:17

Band members
Thomas Eriksen – vocals, all instruments

Guest musician
Freddy Holm – strings and synths

Album Review – Mork / Dypet (2023)

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Let yourself sink into the depths of the abyss to the sound of the sixth full-length album by this one-man Black Metal project hailing from Norway.

The ever prolific, Halden, Norway-based vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Thomas Eriksen returns from the underworld with his Black Metal outfit Mork armed with the project’s sixth studio, entitled Dypet, following swiftly on the heels of his 2021 opus Katedralen. Recorded and mixed by Thomas himself, mastered by Jack Control at Enormous Door, and displaying a sick artwork by David Thiérrée (inspired by the album’s theme of “Draugen” or “Cthulhu”) and crest by Jannicke Wiese-Hansen, Dypet, which means “the deep” from Norwegian, is a miasma of grim and frost-bitten riffs and harsh vocal melodies, simultaneously pushing new ideas forward yet still retaining the signature foundations of ice cold hypnotic Black Metal. Furthermore, Dypet is not a concept album and the themes of hatred, death, betrayal, inner demons and misanthropy will find fans of Black Metal right at home, continuing his exploration of the depths of darkness.

Thomas unleashes his inner demons in the Stygian opening tune Indre Demoner (“inner demons”), starting in a somber, pensive way before exploding into first-class Melodic Black Metal led by his harmonious yet piercing guitar lines, followed by Forført Av Kulden (“seduced by the cold”), even more obscure than its predecessor, with Thomas gnarling like a creature from the abyss until the very end. Moreover, regarding its concept Thomas said that the song “is about being seduced into the cold hard weather outside by an unknown force, wandering into the snowstorm at night and ending up freezing to death. It depicts a somewhat glorified theme of death as a beautiful and unavoidable thing.” Then in Svik (“betrayal”) we’re treated to classic Scandinavian Black Metal infused with Melodic Black Metal elements, with Thomas firing his usual roars supported by a solid job done on drums; whereas Et Kall Fra Dypet (“a call from the deep”) is absolutely heavy and dark from the very first second, where Thomas once again hammers his drums fiercely while his growling resonates through the air.

Featuring guest vocals by Norwegian vocalist Hjelvik, Høye Murer (“high walls”) brings forward strident, razor-edged riffs and low-tuned bass which together generate the perfect atmosphere for Thomas and Hjelvik to vociferate in the darkest possible way; and inspired by the beautiful Nordic countryside we have Bortgang (“demise”), thematically exploring the idea of legacy and it’s various interpretations from both the perspective of the deceased and those that were left behind, another melodic and flammable display of Black Metal by such talented Norwegian musician. Enhancing his animosity and rage it’s time for the venomous Avskum (“scum”), where Thomas keeps roaring rabidly while his guitar sounds absolutely infernal, also showcasing demonic blast beats; and  last but not least Thomas invests in a more direct, old school Black Metal sonority in Tilbake Til Opprinnelsen (“back to origins”), flowing smoothly until the song’s climatic and grim finale.

“It is with great pride that I am able to present and experience the release of my sixth full length album. I put every single drop of myself into the process of shaping Mork’s music. Perhaps even more so with this new album. As the album title, which translates to ‘the deep’, something from the depths has been brought to the surface, Dypet was inspired by my life over the last couple of years, the thoughts, feelings, passion and the evolving of creative free will. Dive in and let yourself sink into the abyss,” commented Thomas about his newborn beast, and you can let your soul be dragged into the deep by streaming the album in full on YouTube or on Spotify, or by clicking HERE and purchasing your favorite version of it. In addition, don’t forget to also follow Thomas and his Mork on Facebook and on Instagram, staying up to date with all things surrounding such grim and captivating project. The abyss is calling you to the sound of the new album by Mork, and I’m sure that, once there, you’ll enjoy its cold embrace for all eternity.

Best moments of the album: Forført Av Kulden, Høye Murer and Avskum.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Peaceville Records

Track listing
1. Indre Demoner 6:15
2. Forført Av Kulden 5:20
3. Svik 5:16
4. Et Kall Fra Dypet 7:31
5. Høye Murer 6:37
6. Bortgang 5:49
7. Avskum 4:44
8. Tilbake Til Opprinnelsen 6:15

Band members
Thomas Eriksen – vocals, all instruments

Guest musician
Hjelvik – vocals on “Høye Murer”