Release Date April 12th, 2026
Format CD
Genre Black Metal
Origin Norway
Ildfar has been lurking in the shadows of the Norwegian woods since the mid-nineties, but the project only truly woke up and started puking out records a few years back. After a demo that gathered dust for fifteen years, Favn finally got his act together in 2018. Since then, the man has been on a tear, dropping a trilogy of albums that sounded like they were recorded inside a frozen tomb. Now, moving over to Purity Through Fire, the project is moving away from the typical blizzard-blast approach to see what else hides in the dark. if you were expecting another round of "Ildfar" just mimicking the usual second-wave worship, “Der Ligger Et Land” is going to slap that expectation right out of your mouth. It’s got a mid-tempo stomp that replaces the usual frantic screeching, and Favn decided to actually sing-like, with real clean vocals. It’s not some wimpy radio pivot, though. This is a cold, calculated move that brings to mind the old Isengard spirit. It’s got that "Høstmørke" vibe where the atmosphere is thick enough to choke on, but it isn’t just a carbon copy of the past.
The production on this thing is raw enough to keep the posers away, but it has a weirdly hypnotic quality. Instead of just being a wall of noise, the guitars have this ringing, melodic edge that makes you feel like you’re staring at the stars while freezing your toes off. Tracks like “Hjemkomsten” and “Under Maanen” have a pulse that’s more about the trance than the attack. It’s a strange shift for a project that used to be all about the fire, but the songwriting holds its own without needing to hide behind a million blast beats.
There’s a lot of melody here, and I don't mean the catchy, weak kind. The clean guitars on songs like “Solen Vekker Dalen” and “Vi Minnes” create a texture that’s pretty damn mesmerizing. It’s got more in common with stuff like Lönndom than the typical corpse-paint crowd. The tracks are short, punchy, and they don’t waste time with unnecessary fluff. You get in, get lost in the icy atmosphere, and get out before the frostbite sets in. It’s a trip that stays interesting even when the pace stays steady.
Honestly, “Der Ligger Et Land” is a solid listen for anyone who wants black metal to have some soul and mystery left in it. It’s not perfect, sometimes the mid-tempo vibe can feel a bit too relaxed for its own good, but the atmosphere is top-tier. Favn knows how to write a hook that sounds like it was dug out of a glacier. If you’re tired of the same old "True Norwegian" clones, this record gives you something different to chew on. It’s a strange, cold journey that warrants plenty of spins.
Score: 7.5
Add comment
Comments