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Urfeind - Dauþalaikaz
To start this review, I’d like to express how grateful I am to have found this band. Discovering Urfeind has been an absolute treat, and their latest album, Dauþalaikaz, has quickly become one of my favorite black metal releases this month.
While I won’t be covering every track on the album, I want to share my general impressions, highlight a few standout songs, and dive into what makes this record so worth listening to.
Artwork and Concept
The album’s artwork is stunning and serves as a gateway into the album’s cosmic and anti-cosmic themes. The visuals immediately caught my attention and made me curious about the band’s approach to black metal. I’ve always been drawn to albums that have a strong conceptual foundation, and this one doesn’t disappoint.
I love it when bands create music that’s not just a collection of songs but a cohesive piece of art with meaning behind it. Dauþalaikaz is exactly that. The cosmic inspiration shines through both in the music and the visuals, making it a standout release for me.
Production and Sound
The production on Dauþalaikaz does justice to Urfeind’s signature sound. It strikes the perfect balance between raw and polished—raw enough to retain the grit and authenticity that black metal demands, but polished enough to let each instrument shine clearly. Unlike some black metal records where the production buries the guitars or drums in a fog of distortion, this album allows the riffs, blast beats, and vocals to all come through with impressive clarity. It’s a balance many strive for but few achieve, and Urfeind nails it.
Check the album here
A Few Track Highlights.
Track 1: Thorns of Madness
This track is a phenomenal opener and sets the tone for the entire album. There’s no overly long ambient intro to sit through—just an immediate dive into the chaos. The guitars start with a simple yet incredibly effective riff, alternating between high and low tones that grab your attention right away.
The drums, packed with masses of cymbal work, add layers of complexity to the song, building anticipation for what’s to come. The blast beats are precise, the fills are dynamic, and the transitions are seamless. I particularly enjoyed the subtle tremolo-picked sections that appear throughout the track, giving it depth without losing its relentless energy. As I’ve said before, the opening track is crucial for drawing the listener in, and Urfeind made a brilliant choice with Thorns of Madness.
Track 6: Nine to Zero
This was my personal favorite on the album. While it might be the most “simple” track in terms of structure, it’s also one of the most emotionally gripping. The song fades in quietly, building anticipation as the volume gradually rises. The tremolo-picked section, played high up the neck, is mesmerizing—six notes repeated with haunting precision, accompanied by a deep, harsh power chord progression underneath.
When the drums kick in with a tight fill, the double-kick patterns propel the song forward, and then the vocals enter, completing the atmospheric assault. As the track progresses, more and more guitar layers are added, giving it a rich texture that rewards repeated listens. Every time I replayed it, I found myself focusing on a different part and discovering something new. Urfeind’s ability to layer so much without making the track sound muddy or overcrowded is genuinely impressive.
Track 7
This track is another standout, particularly for its commanding guitar work. The higher-register riffs are bold, striking, and packed with an eerie, melodic quality that immediately grabs your attention. They’re layered over crushing rhythms, creating a powerful contrast that gives the track a relentless energy.
The power chord sections here are some of the strongest on the album—sounding like they were dragged straight from the underworld. The transitions between these sections and the lead melodies are seamless, showcasing impressive songwriting that keeps the listener engaged.
Vocally, this track stands out as well. The vocals hit their stride here, with a blend of death metal grit and black metal anguish that feels both visceral and controlled. It’s a perfect marriage of style and technique, and it really ties the track together.
Instrumentation
Guitars
The guitar work throughout Dauþalaikaz is simple yet incredibly effective. The chord progressions are well-crafted, the tone is spot-on, and the tremolo-picked melodies strike the perfect balance between aggression and atmosphere. The guitarist does an excellent job of keeping things varied—each track feels distinct, even though the album has a cohesive “feel” overall. The slower sections, where the drums or vocals take the lead, show great compositional restraint and create breathing room in the songs.
Vocals
The vocals are another highlight. They have a versatile quality that would fit just as well in death metal as they do in black metal. There’s a rawness to them, but it’s clear that there’s technique behind the delivery. At times, the vocals sound almost yearning—like a primal scream reaching for something just out of grasp. That emotional edge really elevates the album’s atmosphere.
Drums
Let me just say: the drummer needs a raise. The drum work on this album is a masterclass in precision and creativity. Blast beats are executed perfectly, but they don’t fall into the trap of using the same patterns over and over. Instead, the drums introduce dynamics that shape the songs, shifting their direction and adding depth.
The cymbal work, in particular, is outstanding. From the high hats to the crashes, you can hear every detail clearly, even in the chaos. The slower, more deliberate fills are a nice touch and show a level of thoughtfulness you don’t always find in black metal drumming.
Final Thoughts.
In conclusion, I really loved this album. Urfeind has crafted something memorable with Dauþalaikaz, and I’ll definitely be keeping a close eye on them in the future. With a bit more refinement, I’m confident they can create something that surpasses even this impressive effort.
All in all, I’d rate this album an 8 out of 10, and it’s absolutely going into my physical collection. While I was tempted to bump it up to an 8.5, I felt that a few tracks could have benefited from more breaks or atmospheric interludes, especially given the conceptual depth of the album. But that’s just personal preference—it doesn’t take away from what the band has achieved here.
Great job, Urfeind! Thank you for making this incredible album, and I can’t wait to see what you do next.
9-10: Exceptional
7-8: Good, Great
5-6: Average, Decent
3-4: Fair, Mediocre
1-2: Poor, Subpar
