Helrunar

VANITAS VANITATVM

PROPHECY PRODUCTIONS GERMAN BLACK METALLERS ADD POTENCY TO THEIR POLISH

Helrunar are a professionalsounding BM band. Normally that would be a backhanded compliment, since many an extreme metal band has lost their soul to more complex songwriting and polished productions. Vanitas Vanitatvm, however, is akin to a contemporary Behemoth album – impressive on a technical level, but importantly using that technique as a tool to create devastating, atmospheric and emotive music. Like Behemoth, Helrunar blend elements of death and black metal – though this album leans more toward the latter – and make important use of dynamics in their songs. All the tracks here are intense, concise and well-crafted, capturing a very cerebral and German sense of drama and weight, due to the use of the band’s native language and the nods toward the likes of Secrets Of The Moon and Imperium Dekadenz.

FOR FANS OF: KAMPFAR, IMPERIUM DEKADENZ, SECRETS OF THE MOON

DAYAL PATTERSON