This is the fourth album from Finnish black metal act Ondfødt.
I always enjoy catching up with Ondfødt. 2014’s Hexkonst, 2019’s Dödsrikets Kallelse, and 2021’s Norden are all records that I enjoyed, so it made sense for me to want to check out Det Österbottniska Mörkret too. I’ll say upfront that this has turned out to be Ondfødt’s most professional, accomplished, and enjoyable record.
Ondfødt’s black metal is evil and old-school, and I wouldn’t want it any other way from them. It carries a harsh misanthropic atmosphere that seeps into the airwaves like a toxic miasma. The band’s malevolent riffs power the music through the murk, delivering serrated blackened hatred with obvious passion.
The well-written songs are easy to enjoy if you have a taste for the second wave style. Ondfødt mix their own dark personality into their take on the genre, and the results are very satisfying.
Blackened groove, blackened melody, blackened atmosphere, blackened blasting, blackened screams…Det Österbottniska Mörkret is draped in traditional blackened aggression and frozen mood. The grooves are sharp and make you move, the melodies are catchy and engaging, the atmosphere is thick and immersive, the blast beats are brutal and unforgiving, and the screams are grim and daemonic. I ask you, what more could you want? Tied up with songwriting that punches above its weight, Det Österbottniska Mörkret is an underground black metal treasure that’s waiting for a wider audience to terrorise.
If you’re a fan of the traditional black metal sound and favour acts such as Dark Funeral, 1349, Watain, Gorgoroth, Enthroned, Marduk, and the like, then make sure that you check this out.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 