Whereas just the other day I found myself steeped in the wild craziness of the furthest fringes of black metal with the likes of Arkheth, it’s now that we pull back into something much easier for us to wrap our minds around but it’s in no way material that could be considered conventional by any means. Opposed to outward expression and immense color, here we find ourselves in a claustrophic box that is nothing but black; perfect for a demented take on black metal that’s as potent as it is intoxicating for those who want something more visceral yet straightforward out of their madness. On their first full-length album with just an EP under their belt, Voak’s adventure is one of all that and, somehow, just a little bit more.

The very concept of imprisonment is something that everyone can relate to in some form or another, yet that always makes it a tricky thing to try and embody in musical form for how multi-dimensional and crazy it can be in even the most capable hands. In the case of Voak, it’s clear almost immediately that their hands are as capable as one could possibly hope for. From the very beginning of “Verdrängung”, it is made apparent instantly that this isn’t going to be some black metal out of someone’s basement with some false sense of longing to be free, but, rather, the ten tracks of this record are anything but false as it’s every given inch of this record that feels immensely genuine from its crystal clear political beliefs to the anguish that permeates every possible facet presented to us here. It’s uncompromising to the very end of its 33-minute runtime with its themes undeniably potent, power vicious in every right, and a diversity that threads each track together beautifully into a whole performance of color, passion, and the release of agony through unyielding catharsis through art that truly gives “Verdrängung” a pulse and identity the likes of which many strive for. Bring all of that together in this melting pot of longing for freedom alongside black metal that is never once afraid to find itself apart from the rest of the underground in more ways then one, and what Voak has crafted here is nothing short of delicious, layered, and hypnotizing.

A work like this is hard to come by in the world of black metal despite how many people try to bring it to life in a meaningful way. Immediately, that makes a successful creation such as this all the more spectacular to look upon with every asset of the album working to its advantage, and Voak manages to capitalize on every opportunity throughout the very whole of “Verdrängung”. Releases like this are few and far between, and it’s in no way that excellence of this caliber should be given the disgrace of being swept aside.

“Verdrängung” releases on September 30th via I, Voidhanger Records!

LISTEN to “Verdrängung” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Voak on Facebook here.