Avlid - Ond Bråd Död (Void Wanderer Productions / War Productions) Review by Miloš Šebalj Is it just me, or an album coming from Sweden has to live up to certain standards? Ever wondered why there is a completely different scale when it comes to judging a band from an ‘exo�c’ country? An album coming from China, Bulgaria or Paraguay can be good (though all of them have some real gems, even on the global scale), but a record from a German band is presumed mediocre. Long legacy in black metal (or metal in general) holds the expecta�ons high and the young bands have trouble breaking through the wall of their forefathers and their legendary releases. Avlid basically has everything working for them. From the outsiders perspec�ve, at least. They are a black metal band from Sweden. They have found two reliable labels that have histories with providing a stepping stone for the young and promising acts. And they have a rela�vely good album. “Ond Bråd Död“ is a record that grabs your attention and hardly lets it go. Perhaps the three ambient interludes fall out of place here and break the momentum, but the ’regular’ songs are quite decent. Though Avlid doesn’t stray far off the prescribed black metal formula, they do manage to create songs that capture the listener. They do so by using prevalently melancholic atmosphere to guide you through the album. A dose of ’doomy’ slowdowns enriches the cryptic feel even further. This ghoulish, nocturnal aura is just fragmentarily cut by the barrage of cold riffs. Skillful use of the keyboards is the key distinctive feature of Avlid. The duo doesn’t go for top speed, as it is mostly unnecessary in their musical output. They rather focus on diversifying their songs with crea�ve use of drums and guitars. Luckily, they stop playing around before it turns overly progressive. This way, the Swedes master a certain dose of memorability, even if the songs are usually quite long. Now, did Avlid achieve something that will help them break out of anonymity? Probably not this �me. Despite “Ond Bråd Död“ being a fairly good record, it still lacks that certain something. Given that this is a newcomer on the crowded Swedish black metal scene, the fact that they didn’t bring anything new to the table is somewhat expected. The album is crafted with extensive use of familiar musical patterns. When you translate the title of the opening track, it says „Kill Yourself“. This is hardly some new idea. I didn’t get the lyrics, so I can’t be sure, but judging from the title, it is not promising. However, what is promising, is the fresh energy piled into the album. While there are many albums that can be compared to „Ond Bråd Död“, most of them just don’t feel sincere enough. Or are just downright effortless. Avlid did make a strong first step onto the scene. I can surely see them emerge with something highly acclaimed next time. In that case, the black market price for this CD might skyrocket within few years. I would recommend ge�ng it while it’s hot. Might not be the best one you own, but it is definitely not a waste of money. h�ps://www.facebook.com/Avlid-103767564526103/ h�ps://avlid.bandcamp.com/releases
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