From the depth of in Iceland’s Reykjavik NYRST has forged a new blackened creation by the name "Völd", an album that pays homage to the immense volcanoes of Iceland.
With “Völd” which roughly translates to “Force, power or might”, NYRST conjures forth music with the unrelenting and unforgiving harshness that the forces of nature have wrought upon every living being in their land through the ages. Written and rehearsed only a few kilometers from a lava spewing active volcano, they sought inspiration in the beauty and perilousness danger of the stark and chaotic surroundings, wishing to portray their material accordingly.
As the band says themselves:
This release marks a big milestone in our career as a band. We’ve developed a lot as musicians since the release of “Orsök” and we took a very different approach to writing and composition. Our intention was to bring all the best elements of our previous work and implement new ideas along with a different theme, which in turn resulted in a much heavier, grim but melodic album.
Reykjavík, Iceland-based black metal act NYRST was formed in the year 2013 with the aim of creating the coldest, most eerie and barren soundscape possible. After the release of their demo in 2016 and a full-length debut album in 2020, a dense atmospheric experience which gained much praise for perilous melodies and intense vocals, NYRST display a vicious prowess in their craft, unusual in a band so early in their career.
Five years after The Dreaming I, this follow-up continues the terrifying and wondrous music of Naas Alcameth's nightmarish shadow realms, creating one of the most innovative and fascinating sounds in extreme metal. 'Ephialtes' is absolutely sensational, opening with incredible power, and building to one of the album's highlights starting at 1:31. 'Incubatio' is equally cataclysmic, with its dark ambient intro, followed by blistering blast beats, until the apocalyptic shriek at 2:51 — unreal! Obsidian One
The spirit returns in one of the most important albums in recent metal history. 'Moss Covered Bones' at 8:01 — can you feel it? Krieger channels the fierce soul of his heritage, with echoes of generations of oppression and resilience, rising again through the raw, rebellious power of black metal, with stunning acoustic beauty as well. Do you see it? Do you hear it? Hail to the witch hawk and the force he brings to the scene! Obsidian One
Seething with anger, Misþyrming have come from Iceland to deliver a dense black metal offering. Full of melodic and blasting rage this is a performance you won’t easily forget. 8/10 RJ