To blend raw heaviness alongside an ethereal atmosphere is one of the trickiest things to achieve in the vast expanse of what’s possible across the entire spectrum of metal with the bands most adept at such a feat rightfully earning wide acclaim. Where do you draw the line between uncompromising intensity and dreamlike landscapes where the rules of reality fade away? That’s a hurdle that has plagued thousands of up-and-coming bands with plenty not managing to live up to such high expectations that some associate with such attempts, and while it isn’t often that we see a small act pull it off, it is truly a sight to behold when one does succeed. With their first creation in eight years, Helve shows us at every turn that the long silence was not taken without honing their ferocious craft.

Such a wait between efforts can lead to many different outcomes for any band simply because eight years is a long time for anything to be made. Just as easily as we can be handed a masterpiece, eight years can dish out an overworked album that would’ve been perfectly fine if it was considered complete years before. Surely, that was a challenge that plagued Helve during the making of “To Be Forgotten”, but if you were to pick any of these four tracks then you would see incredibly clearly that those years weren’t spent making sure every given facet of the record was pristine to the highest degree. Rather, Helve allows their first full-length album to breathe and really become a work all its own. This is post-sludge that takes cues from some of the very best of what the sound has brought forward. “To Be Forgotten” manages to maintain the raw nature of what sludge has long been recognized for while never once failing to utilize the transcendent and otherworldly nature of post-metal to make for a dynamic experience that is just as adept at enchanting you with gorgeous atmospheres while the gravity of Helve’s sludge brings you crashing down with unrelenting brutality. Both work in tandem to make for a tremendous contrast such that Helve achieves a ferociously organic sound that, while still having more than enough room for improvement, does not lack in any category be it in terms of execution or satisfaction.

Evocative in all the right places and relentless everywhere you look, whatever goal Helve had when they put down the first note that would become this album was achieved in a stupendous fashion. Whether it takes another eight years, longer, or sooner before we hear from Helve again, “To Be Forgotten” is a great step forward in every regard for Helve with the record surely just the beginning of great things should the quintet simply stay the course.

“To Be Forgotten” releases on September 29th!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “To Be Forgotten” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Helve on Facebook here.