It can be too often that something as simple and small as a change in pacing and speed can make for an absolutely wild difference in any given performance. It’s a big part of what’s made metal such a versatile sound since the very beginning as it has long utilized that aspect to great effect. Black metal, in particular, is one style that seems to lean more towards the direction of more speed as opposed to less, but that’s slowly changing with more patient performances becoming more frequent and more exquisite as time goes on. As if I needed proof of concept, the universe delivers to us a debut album the likes of which is a glorious embodiment of such with all the talent and dynamic power to match.

Immediately, the eye is drawn towards the very length of this album of all things before even a note is played. With seven tracks spread across an almost exactly 57-minute runtime, it’s really the sort of thing that captures the imagination and makes one truly wonder just what could possibly be in store with the record in question, and it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that it wouldn’t lead to success in lesser hands. In the case of Tugt, though, I don’t think there could ever be a reality where the resulting excellence that is “Ved Lysets Ophør” could have come out anything short of wondrous. While it’s very easy to expect out of nowhere that this record would be a wholly patient creation that absolutely takes its time given its substantial runtime, it becomes clear pretty quickly that Tugt has a sizeable amount of dynamics in just one out of any of the given seven tracks with all sorts of speed and atmosphere being measured out differently minute by minute such that “Ved Lysets Ophør” can seamlessly transition from a more measured black metal experience that we’re all familiar with to a true dirge born out of pure darkness that takes its sweet time for maximum effect as Tugt works their deadly craft. Effortlessly, that alone enables the very whole of “Ved Lysets Ophør” to become a diverse listen that has so much more to offer than what a simple single adventure throughout can capture with there being more than enough secrets to unravel.

From the previous experience of these band members working to their extreme advantage to the very tone alone of the record speaking volumes for the experience as a whole, I simply cannot look into the very depths of what’s to be had here in this glory debut and not be left awestruck by what I witness. This is a special creation by all regards that should absolutely capture the attention of anyone who considers themselves even a light aficionado of what black metal has to offer in today’s world for it’s the name of Tugt that we’re all but guaranteed to keep hearing more from in the blackest nights that have yet to come.

“Ved Lysets Ophør” releases on February 11th!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “Ved Lysets Ophør” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Tugt on Facebook here.