Vafurlogi is an old/new Icelandic black metal band fronted by Þórir Garðarsson notably of Svartidauði and Sinmara. The project has percolated for over 20 years, with some of the songs being written over that period, songs that didn’t belong in Svartidauði’s more chaotic discography, as Vafurlogi is far more rooted in classic, early late 90s early 2000s second-wave black metal.

That said, with gruffer vocals and a fuzzy warm guitar tone, and some militant, triumphant riffs, I hear bands like Italy’s Nova and Spite Extreme Wing here. Regardless, this is by far Garðarsson’s most melodic project of his career, and Vafurlogi delivers some very cool, even unique black metal moments throughout this 8-song debut.

“Reikul Vofa” opens the album with 8 minutes of varied, eclectic black metal that actually reminds me a little of Fleurety’s game-changing debut Min tid skal komme, with some of the layered riffs.

But the album really takes off with the second track, “Viðjar Holdsins,” with a wondrously jaunty melodic main riff that’s about as anti-black metal as it gets. After the more atonal, Deathspell Omega-ish “Helgrindur,” another killer, off-kilter haughty riff occurs in the mid- and later stages of the fourth track, “Dreyrrauði.”

“Hvíldarsálmur” returns to the more progressive leaning of the opener, again imbuing Fleurety a little, and has some clean vocals as well while “Iðrun Og Ótti” is a more blistering, but still adventurously structured song, with a really nifty riff around 2 minutes in. Closer “Duftið Eitt” is another fine track with some Abigor -ish percussion amid the dissonant, lurching atmospheres. 

In all, Vafurlogi has delivered a striking debut that has some very cool, unique moments littered around its, distinctly Icelandic delivery.

[Visit the band's website]

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