Slagmaur - Von Rov Shelter (2009)

In addition to the genesis of modern black metal as we know it, Norway has long produced a series of peripheral artists who have journeyed alongside the same crowd, but created extremely different styles that occasionally cross over into the familiar. Ulver and Mortiis would be a few early examples, but today we have the confounding Slagmaur. Von Rov Shelter is the band's third full-length, and quite the bizarre entity. Alas, different does not always make for a good listen, and though this album features a few titillating segments, it does tend towards unwelcome ennui.

The spry, neo-classical intro "_" is delightful and creepy through its narration and playful orchestration, but "Drako Gigant" transforms the album into something 'other', a bludgeoning industrial black track (similar to Red Harvest) which starts strong, but gradually grows boring, even when the rhythms shift for a little chaos. "Fantom Eks Speriment" conjures another mire of black sludge with an industrial edge to the percussion, pleasing at first but again it devolves into what seems like endless repetition of uninteresting notes. Ditto for "Lange Knivers Natt", for its dull rise and fall rhythm despite a dense, dark backdrop, and a pretty ominous breakdown around the 1:45 mark which creates one of the highlights of the record. "Nattens Sorte Ord" is another classical interlude, but tonally darker, with some whispered vocals. "Klokker Tramp" is another, sludgy industrial black track but I found the atmosphere superior to any of its predecessors. The final piece is "Ramaskrik", which dwells in a haunting environment, yet again laden in repetitious note patterns.

Von Rov Shelter is stark, grim and raw, aside from the interludes, but unfortunately none of the rhythms really take advantage of that fact. There are interesting ideas at play, but dull in their execution, as if the album cannot completely shoulder the burden of its own weight. I hate to sound too negative; I appreciate bands thinking outside the box, and clearly Slagmaur does this, but the experience was somewhat lacking. For the heavier material, the final two tracks dominate the rest of the album, but they entered the picture a little late.

Verdict: Indifference [6/10]

http://www.slagmaur.com/