Vafurlogi are a black metal band from Iceland and this is their debut album.
Í Vökulli Áþján contains 43 minutes of music and is brought to us by a current/ex-member of Sinmara and Svartidauði. Joined by a very capable drummer, (Beneath, Helfró, Ophidian I), Vafurlogi are a dark revelation that has long been threatening to spill over into reality, but now has.
The promo blurb tells us that Í Vökulli Áþján is rooted in early 00s black metal, which is an accurate portrayal of what you’ll find across these eight songs. The music delivers a traditional black metal approach, viewed through a contemporary Icelandic dissonant lens and driven by a fiery spirit. It offers up a cold, frozen landscape, but one populated with the heat of the volcanic underworld.
The songs blend darkness and light into a formidable mix of black metal might. The music has a base of blunt aggression that’s written with passionate depth. This is augmented by a firm understanding of esoteric atmosphere and how this is best infused into the core of the music. Melody is used as an emotive highlight, manifesting as and when needed, forcing its way to the fore in dappled shades of light and colour.
There are some compelling riffs on the album, but it’s not a riff-focused record. The songs are considered and mood-driven, building sonic worldscapes that drip with blackened supremacy and atmospheric immersion. All aspects of the music feel thought through and reflected upon, and it’s clear that the artist behind the music has poured a lot of time and energy into these compositions.
Í Vökulli Áþján transports the listener to realms of ice and fire, providing a landscape to explore at length. Despite its instant impact, Í Vökulli Áþján is one to get to know gradually over time. The songwriting and execution of Vafurlogi has made this debut record an engaging and enjoyable experience, one to be savoured at length and with repeat exposures.
Very highly recommended for any connoisseur of black metal.
Wonderbox Metal 