Synkvervet/Mistborn/2017 Full Length Review

  Synkvervet  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  symphonic  black  and  pagan/folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2017  album  "Mistborn"  which  will  be  released  at  the  end  of  May.

  Rain  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  keyboards  and  symphonic  elements  a  few  seconds  alter  as  well  as  some  drum  beats  which  also  leads  up  to  a  heavier  direction  along  with  some  operatic  female  vocals  as  well  as  adding  in  growls  and  grim  black  metal screams  and  they  also  mix  the  heavy  and  symphonic  styles  together.

  Clean  male  vocals a re  also  used  at  times  while  both  the  riffs  and  solos  also  use  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  grim  spoken  words  are  also  used  briefly  and  as  the  album  progresses  folk  elements  and  a  more  pagan  atmosphere a re  added  onto  the  recording  and  some  of  the  fast  riffing  also  uses  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking. 

  Synkvervet  creates  another  recording  that  remains  true  to  the  symphonic  style  of  pagan/black  metal  from  previous  releases,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover  Nordic  Paganism,  Mythology,  Folklore,  Mysticism  and  Nature  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Synkvervet  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  pagan  and  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Anthems  To  The  North"  "Through  The  Eyes  Of  The  Demon"  "Alone  In  Eternity"  and  "I  Den  Svarte  Solens  Rik".  8  out  of  10.

synkvervet@synkvervet.com

www.facebook.com/synkvervet

Synkvervet Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?

Synkvervet started out as a one-man studio project by Ingemar in the fall of 2011.  Originally Synkvervet was supposed to be a pure instrumental project, but it didn’t take long before he realized that the project needed vocals. Not being much of a vocalist, he called in his friend and band colleague Truls. Together they created the mysterious, trollish and aggressive folk sound that is SYNKVERVET. Synkvervet's debut album (Vår Avmakt) was released in the winter of 2013. A few months later Truls and Ingemar started working on a new album. They decided to bring in a drummer and a guitar player. The decision fell on Rino and Espen. With the new sound that Ingemar created, it opened new doors to inspiration for Synkvervet. During the
recording of the new album, Christina and Niclas was invited as guest vocalists on a few tracks. Later they became permanent members of Synkvervet. The band now consists of six permanent members. And the new Synkvervet album "Trollspeil" was released in December 2014.

2.So far you have released 2 albums, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on both of the recordings and also how do they differ from each other?

The first album was much more black metal inspired, while the second album is more melodic and atmospheric. Also adding two new vocalists on the second album contributed to changing the sound a bit.

3.Originally the band started out as an instrumental solo project, what was the decision behind adding in vocals and bringing in a full time line up?

Ingemar felt that the music needed another element, and the choice fell naturally on vocals. On the second album Ingemar and Truls decided to take the studio project to a possible live performance act. Therefor
they decided to bring in some new musicians.

4.The bands name and some of the lyric come from Old Norse Sagas, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in Nordic Paganism?

The name "Synkvervet" means illusion, and this describes both the music and the band. Hearing stories about folklore, norse mythology and fairytales is a normal part of growing up in Norway. And when we started
to make music, this was the natural path to take.

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

We started out as a studio project therefor we have not been able to play live. And since we just recently became a full band we only had a couple of months to rehearse.

6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

We hope to do our first gig in the autumn 2015.

7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

We`we had some offers, but for now we are happy to be independent. But if the right deal comes along you never know.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of both black and folk metal?

The feedback has been amazing from both black and folk metal fans.

9.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the bands members are a part off?

Greyzone and Blindfolded are currently playing gigs, PelleK are rehearsing, and Twisted Autumn Darkness are in studio making a new album.

10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

After working on Trollspeil, we think we found our sound. And that's is the sound we are going for in the future.

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

A mix of all kinds of genres. But we are striving to create our own sound.

12.What are some of your non musical interests?

History, reading, gaming, cats and of course beer.

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Thank you so much for reviewing our new album and taking interest in Synkvervet.

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Synkvervet/Trollspeil/2014 Full Length Review

  Synkvervet  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  plays  a  mixture  of  symphonic  black  metal  and  pagan/folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2014  album  "Trollspeil".


  A  very  epic  and  neo-folk  synth  sound  starts  off  the  album  and  after  a  minute  the  music  starts  going  into  more  of  a  melodic  black  metal  direction  that  also  introduces  blast  beats  and  grim  yet  high  pitched  screams  to t he  recording  which  they  also  mix  in  with  symphonic  elements  along  with  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  On  some  of  the  tracks  operatic  female  vocals  can  be  heard  while  some  of  the  sections  bring  in  a  few  seconds  of  death  metal  growls  at  times  and  you  can  also  hear  a  touch  of  modern  prog  metal  in  the  bands  musical  style  at  times  and  as  the  album  progresses  the  synths  start  bringing  in  more  of  a  haunting  atmosphere  and  also  start  adding  in  more  elements  of  folk  music  and  as  the  album  progresses  clean  singing  male  vocals  can  be  heard  on  some  of  the  songs  while  a  couple  of  later  tracks  also  brings  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Synkvervet  plays  a  style  of  symphonic  black  metal  that  brings  in  a  touch  of  pagan  and  folk  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sound s very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  both  Norwegian  and  English  and  cover  Nordic  Paganism,  Mythology,  Folklore,  Nature  and  Mysticism.

  In  my  opinion  Synkvervet  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  symphonic  black  metal  and  pagan/folk  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Horns  of  Vengeance"  "Inner  Sanctum"  "Clearwater  Diamonds"  and  "Angelfall".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPoIxwbBNbA