Alfahanne
Blod Eld Alfa
Dark Essence Records
September 11th, 2015
Note: This text overuses the word Alfa.
Let the Alfapokalyps come upon us once again! With their new release, Blod Eld Alfa, the Swedish alfapocalyptic rockers from Alfahanne prove that it is still possible to record music which will stand out from the thicket of today’s metal. The upcoming album manages to capture Alfa spirit and lead it into the direction which I am definitely fond of.
After the comprehensive introduction, the band gets straight to the point and let you eat Alfa body and drink Alfa blood. It’s exceptionally easy to find breathtaking or even dramatic moments from the very beginning. With tracks like Besatt, they determine their real possession with classic Alfa riffs which have already become the band’s trademark. Nicely built compositions base on repeated or, in point of fact, mantric passages which can put you in the proper Alfa mood.
Blod Eld Alfa implies a very melancholic atmosphere with a lot of nostalgic melodies which definitely work for me. Staying in the smooth and clean overtone, Alfahanne proves that simplicity is the best. And indeed, they don’t bother with complex rhythms – they just manifest their excellence with the pure clarity.
The vocals… I remember when I first heard Skjoldhammer’s voice on their previous release, I was blown away. Literally. For me, this being a very strong point of Alfahanne, the characteristic and very skilful vocals are another trademark of this Swedish group.
Speaking of vocals, Alfahanne quite successfully surprised me by inviting several guests to sing on the new album. The closing track, Slutdestination Eskilstuna features my all time favourite Niklas Kvarforth who, as always, shows off his amazing vocal skills. The other invitees are Erlend Hjelvik ofKvelertak, Spellgoth of Horna and Baptism as well as Nattfursth, known from the Swedish black metal act, Sorhin. They all add something different to the album making it a little bit more diverse in its purest simplicity.
There is not much conclusion needed, Blod Eld Alfa speaks for itself in 100%. Successfully blending so many different genres, Alfahanne draws inspiration from the energy of punk music but, on the other hand, diving into the dark abyss of black metal. Mixing simplicity with diversity is the hard job and this is why the album goes on my personal list of the best releases of 2015. Accept, therefore, the Alfa body and revel in its infinite wisdom…
THE GOAT TAVERN 