There’s nothing quite like a capable black metal act that can dish out some damned good riffs but still remain vicious enough to even be called scathing as the work goes on. With cover art that immediately caught my eye, which is always a great start, Svartgren delivers just that with their fresh offering as the Serbian act proves to us that they are more than apt for the task of delivering not just a solid album but an incredibly solid listen all-around.

It can be easily said that it doesn’t take much to pull off a good black metal record given all the different templates you have to work with, and there may be a lick of truth in that, but it’s the execution factor that shows us really what a band is made of no matter how experienced they art. Svartgren is far from experienced but far from a novice act since its inception since 2005 has provided a handful of works, but it’s here with “Divlja Vatra” that we really see what this act is capable of. To say it’s good would be putting it mildly. This record isn’t quite what I’d call a staggering work by any means whatsoever, but it’s an absolute far cry from being anything to skip over as it’s in virtually every track that Svartgren treats us to something that’s always packed with a fiery ferocity and real power the likes of which only quality black metal can deliver so well, and it’s at every given chance that “Divlja Vatra” delivers with no sort of hesitation in sight. It’s all well spread out, too, as Svartgren clearly understands the importance of an eclectic listen such that the listener isn’t constantly bashed over the head with the same elements inside and out, so they have created an experience that is constantly ebbing and flowing between the many different aspects that this band bring to the table. Fortunately, where many bands could’ve easily stumbled it’s here that “Divlja Vatra” succeeds in several instances to show just how promising this band can be and the trajectory of this act is sure to only get higher as the number of their efforts grow and their expertise gets even sharper.

A good black metal band, like always, is something that needs to be remembered and respected because when shit’s good it can easily become great, and I can’t help but feel it in my gut that Svartgren can quickly become a true force to reckon with given time. “Divlja Vatra” is a very respectable listen from front to back that’s a damn good way to send of 2019 black metal and one whose successor I hope to hear very soon.

LISTEN to “Divlja Vatra” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Svartgren on Facebook here.