Djevel ‘s Natt til ende, the final chapter of the trilogy of what can only be described as one of black metal’s finest titles, is now out. First, 2021’s Tanker som rir natten was hailed as a flawless record. Then, the 2022 follow-up, Naa skrider natten sort, received amazing reactions and now, the hell circle closes with the final chapter of the trilogy, out on November 15th, via Aftermath Music.
Norway-based black metal trio Djevel uses the mysterious glow of fading light and pitch black atmosphere to pull the curtain shut on their spectacular ninth full-length. A choir of ghosts, the wrath of a soul near death, and mind blowing adrenaline… All these hardly do justice shall one try to describe the supernatural atmosphere of Natt til ende…
The album is one of their most aggressive ones to date!
The seven track album has a Norse black metal opener, Bespottelsen,.. Thus the guitars start quick and cutting building up vicious arrangements that set the general tone of the album, somewhere between ominous and melodramatic. The refrain builds on layers of atmospheric/black guitar and choir-like vocals lending a dramatic feeling.
Furthermore, En vinter efter kommer hooks by introducing clean vocals from main composer and guitarist Trond Ciefels. Eventually, it brings in folk-like choral harmonies as it flows toward the final third of the song. The coldness of their sound also bears an eerie pagan/Norse tone. It only intensifies from this point, snuffing out the light rather than calling for worship. Yet, the cold atmosphere builds on melodicism and an intricate blend of melancholy, inherent to Djevel‘s personal style.
Ravnehymne is a shorter song, yet, in less than four minutes it succeeds to sweep the listener deep into the coldest atmosphere… Next, Jesu lidelse captivates with its haunting riffs and dramatic atmospheric sound achieved by emphasizing on the vocalist’s range… Which however, sweeps from menacing inflexions and dreadful tones to ethereal accents… And everything in between.
Under nattens fane i fanden is nothing short of spectacular!
The drums build some kind of broadness… Organs start the grinding, guitars hum along, and the final shape of the riff hails down in funereal scene, a promise of calm, agonizing coldness. It takes us deeper under the banner of night where man is only a fog of loneliness and anxiety, adding a good dose of keyboards which scream timelessness into the freezing void.
As we step closer to the grand finale, I skovaandsfavn builds on a very short-lasting moment of peaceful coldness. It is a piano piece that commences with the rustling of wind and features other atmospheric touches, as the sound of crows and spectral echoes. That is just before the title track, Natt til ende a hypnotic 14.26 minute closing song which truly takes us on a journey to the end of the night. Throwing the listener directly into the maelstrom, the first minutes are monumental glorification of the absence of light… By absolutely pummeling the listener relentlessly. After almost four minutes, the song starts to spiral down in hypnotic, ritualistic circles with keyboards taking precedence over guitars in a grandiose conclusion of the final liberation of man and nature.
T. Ciekals, the creative force behind Djevel commented:
“Natt til ende is the last and final conclusion in the trilogy about the “night”. This last chapter is my manifest of the final ending of Christianity and death of “Jesus”, in both physical and mental shape. Naturally, this also lifts the idea and concept of forces Christianity calls evil. The same forces I would call natural and human. They may be described as in a dream or in a more harsh speech. The idea that “god” lives on in, and through man, is to me repulsive, and this trilogy, and then this album is my perspective on how I see this should come to an end. This is black metal, this is the end of all false hope and “light”. To a new bright beginning!”
The new Djevel ‘s album came out on November 15th and is available from Aftermath Music digitally and on CD. With cassette coming in December and vinyl in January 2025.
Tracklist:
1. Bespottelsen
2. En vinter efter kommer
3. Ravnehymne
4. Jesu lidelse
5. Under nattens fane i fandens prakt
6. I skovaandsfavn
7. Natt til ende
