Album Review: Minneriket – Gjennom meg går ingen til hvile (Self Released)

Norwegian black metal act Minneriket will release their new album, Gjennom meg går ingen til hvile, on January 21st, 2022.

The solo project of Stein Akslen, the album features a large amount of session musicians and guests.

Abut the album, Stein says:

In total I have been working on this album for about 6 years now. There’s a lot of memories tied up on it, and it will be dedicated in loving memory to those we have lost. Some of the lyrics on the album actually dates back about 17 years, so I’ve used this album to really go full circle.

A black metal epic that begins with an exhaustive focus on melancholic melody combined with blasts of black metal intensity. Så Kald En Jord is an immediate showcase of grandeur and extravagance but with a rawer tone. Followed by the shorter but just as forlorn Hjemlengsel, where instrumental string orchestration is the dominant feature.

A burst of black metal greets on Begravelsens Hjerteslag, though the gloomy keyboard melody and eerie female vocals balance this one out. Especially as it’s another gargantuan listen. Uncomfortable harshness met by disconsolate melody. Continuing into Regnbuer I Gråtoner, where the orchestration hits cinematic highs and Sorg Og Savn delivers a ritualistic and folk-inspired sound.

Imagination is running wild here and it makes for a constantly evolving listen. Where no two tracks sound alike, yet is pertinent to the overall feel and theme of the record. It’s why another short and pessimistic effort like Solnedgang works so well. Especially when it is surrounded by what came before and what follows.

Following nicely into Hvil I Fred, where there’s a stronger sense of order between the melodies and weighty heaviness. Before Forglemmegei takes its cue from the melodic interludes that have been experienced so far and extends it to nearer 4 minutes. A calming piece of music. The perfect preparation for the intense Nåde. A track that is chaotically beautiful, wildly enchanting, extensively detailed and deeply moving. The culmination of an album that is more than just something you listen too. It’s something you exist in. A state of mind.

That it closes out with a playful and energetic piece of orchestration (11379) seems so fitting. A genuine work of art. Minneriket have certainly made something unforgettable here.

Minneriket – Gjennom meg går ingen til hvile Full Track Listing:

1. Så Kald En Jord
2. Hjemlengsel
3. Begravelsens Hjerteslag
4. Regnbuer I Gråtoner
5. Sorg Og Savn
6. Solnedgang
7. Hvil I Fred
8. Forglemmegei
9. Nåde
10. 11379

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