Alfahanne – „Vår tid är nu“ (2024)

Alfahanne – „Vår tid är nu“ (2024)

If I were to give this review a title it would be „The Beautiful Darkness of Alfahanne“. In fact, along with the definition of Alfapocalyptic rock, this is another of the definitions they themselves give to their music. And, as they say, nothing is accidental. There are some bands and artists that I have been following for years, not to say since they came up on the scene, and the „Alfa Males“ are among them. I should note here that in all these years they may have surprised me, but they have never disappointed me. They’re one of those bands that you can safely say they do the same thing, but at the same time it’s so different every time that you can’t escape their grip… and they never get boring. One Way In No Way Out. At first, it may have sounded a bit pretentious and maybe a bit too masculine, but as time went on, as I got completely captivated and immersed in their work, I realized just how right they really are with this slogan.

But let’s talk about “Vår tid är nu“. If the previous “Atomvinter“ was brilliant, incredible, beautiful, dark, technically polished and refined to the last detail, “Vår tid är nu“… “Vår tid är nu“ left me literally breathless. Some bands claim to be dark, relying on brutality, attack and aggression. Being „Alpha“, Alfahanne have always flaunted it, and quite shamelessly let’s face it, but the difference isn’t just that with them it’s real and genuine. The difference, the cosmic difference, is that their darkness doesn’t brutally slam you. Their Darkness is so enchanting, bewitching, ethereal, even mystical. Darkness, that you feel subconsciously with senses from another world and dimension and by the time you feel it you are already in that position – One Way In No Way Out. And they, just like a hungry wolf, will have dragged you into the darkest, most diabolical place you can (not) imagine and there they will slowly and methodically gnaw away at you until you become a stripped nerve.

This is not only the most darkly aggressive and heavy album the Swedish apocalyptic quintet has ever released in its history, carrying intensity and explosive energy. But also the most beautiful in terms of melodies, harmonies, riffs and whatever else you can imagine associated with beautiful music. Is it apocalyptic?! If you turn inward to yourself as you’re listening to it and let it guide you, you will surely find the answer, as you feel your heart begin to pump more blood and feelings creep up and drown out your thoughts. Along with that, even though they’ve left their cynical brashness and defiance behind a bit on this record, the rebelliousness with a touch of punkiness still shines through in some of the compositions. And the nostalgic spirit of the ’80s that emanates from somewhere in the background (another Alfahanne trademark) leaves that nagging sense of something past that we wish would happen again and again, like „Alfa Omega“. A true anthem of rebellion, unpluckiness and free spirit.

This album shakes me to the core every time I put it on, and the more I listen to it, the more I fly to the Underworld of cosmic darkness, discarded emotions and mortified feelings I’ve filled it with like an old closet. This album is a reminder that we are human, and that feelings and emotions cannot stay imprisoned, no matter how much we lie to ourselves that we have isolated them and shoved them somewhere there in the bottomless Inferno of Oblivion. They scramble out, into the air, to touch a tune, to dance to some dark harmony, and the more these feelings triumph, soaring high, the more we sink into the sticky bitterness of the unhappened, for only Darkness remains to fill the gaping pit.

„Vår tid är nu“ – „Our Time Is Now“ – this title sounds like a manifesto. We are here, our time is now, if you don’t accept us, our music will force you to follow us. This album marks the ten year anniversary of Alfahanne’s first album “Alfapokalyps“. True to their tradition, they have once again invited a plethora of artists from the black metal scene to take part in the recordings, and who you can hear on the individual tracks. This time they are Nattefrost (Carpatian Forest), Spellgoth (Horna), Nattfursth (Sorhin) and Doedsadmiral (Nordjevel).

Favorite songs from the album? Well, all of them, but I would have to say „Wolfman“, which could easily become the band’s calling card (not that they don’t have such songs already). And the eponymous „Vår tid är nu“ featuring Nattfursth (Sorhin). The longest song on the album and possibly the longest ever made by Alfahanne. This song is a moving journey, emotional, sorrowful, lonesome, but also affirming. „Our Time Is Now“ but IS IT? and WHY?. Question marks hanging like a fearsome Damocles sword not letting us rest. Have we missed each other again into the time of unheard longings. And why do we believe there are no coincidences…?

Hopefully the band’s comment regarding “Vår tid är nu““ – „Our time is now, this is the beginning of the end“ – doesn’t turn out to be a gloomy prophecy of a swan song. I don’t know about the world, but I need a world where I can wait for the next Alfahanne record and enjoy their music. I hope after you hear the album you share this opinion too, because my prophecy is that when my year starts with a 10 for an album, it stays at #1.

“Vår tid är nu„“ is out on February 9 via Dark Essence Records. It will be available in CD, Digital and Limited Edition Swamp Green Vinyl formats and can be pre-ordered now from:

Bandcamp: https://alfahanne.bandcamp.com/album/v-r-tid-r-nu

Webshop: https://darkessencerecords.no/shop/

10/10