THE DEATHTRIP

Demon Solar Totem SVART/PROFOUND LORE

Grave Pleasures frontman returns to the black arts

For what originally started as an outlet for guitarist Host to draw down the moon with primitive black metal hypnosis, The Deathtrip’s music has actually evolved into a malleable form. This is very noticeable on second LP

Demon Solar Totem, the first album featuring vocalist Kvohst (Grave Pleasures, ex-) – who replaces Aldrahn (Dødheimsgard, Urarv) – and bassist

Thomas Eriksen (Mork).

The raw cyclic riffing of Beherit and Darkthrone continues here, but there’s also the sub-zero freeze of Thorns at play. Kvohst’s oration imparts a weight of drama, too, whether through his fierce snarl or the mournful gothic tenor we’ve come to cherish on Beastmilk and Grave Pleasures albums. With new blood, The Deathtrip conjure seriously ceremonial magick, making for an engrossing rite of

BM, born of second-wave practices, yet fuelled by an experimental black flame. ■■■■■■■■■■

FOR FANS OF: , Thorns, Beherit

DEAN BROWN