This is the latest EP from Bezwering, a black metal band from the Netherlands.
Containing an ex-member of Wederganger, Dwalingen is a 12-minute release that showcases Bezwering’s uncommon take on black metal across two tracks. Although you can hear second wave elements for sure, there’s a stronger dose of first wave influence than you typically find in contemporary bands.
Both songs run to about six minutes in duration, and the first is De Dood in de Ogen. It’s not what I was expecting, but not in a bad way. A slow, doomy riff opens the song, and before long we’re in stomping mid-paced territory, only with striking clean singing instead of the traditional screams you’d probably be expecting, (I know I was). It gives the song more of a modern Darkthrone feel, mixed with Bathory, Bethlehem, traditional doom metal, and epic heavy metal. It’s downbeat and gloomy, but has character that I really like. Other vocal styles appear, including screams, but the cleans are the main delivery mode.
After this is De Roep van de Maan, which follows in a stylistically similar way, focusing on occult atmosphere and worldbuilding. It’s its own master though, offering a more traditional blackened approach, mixed with the elements previously mentioned. There are some really strong melodies on this song too.
Both of these songs showcase the path less travelled that Bezwering seem happy to be following. If you’ve a taste for something blackened that walks a different route from the common hordes, check out Dwalingen.
Wonderbox Metal 