When I got „The Archer, Fjord and the Thunder“ album, all I could really say was: „What a beauty!“ And when I started listening to it, I just couldn’t get enough – I was addicted (still am). With this album, ENDEZZMA come out of the shadows of the underground and are ready to conquer the world of extreme metal, a new page in the band’s history. They themselves say that with this album, they close the chapter called „The Arcane Abyss“.

Preserving the spirit and atmosphere of classic Norwegian old school black metal, at the same time „The Archer, Fjord and the Thunder“ is a perfectly produced, polished, thought out and crafted with every bit of detail masterpiece. The album reflects the dedication and passion of everyone involved. From the concept and the album artwork to the incredibly composed music, which paints landscapes and tells stories.

There isn’t a song on the album that lacks instrumental power, vocal ferocity and seductive, ethereal melody. Although „The Name of the Night Is a Strong Tower“ begins with a slow intro reminiscing of a funeral, a minute later you are struck by a mighty sound shock. The thing I liked the most, is that each song has a life of its own and carries its own soul. What I mean by this is that it’s not like the majority of present-day black metal albums, where you hear the first song and you already know what soundscape and themes the band are following.

The beginning of „Anomalious Abomination“ is almost like a classic thrash composition, which later floods you with a melody, in which you want to drown and never emerge from the dense, beautiful and deep sound bacchanalia. A real , sung and played passion, which flows like a crescendo into the eponymous „The Archer, Fjord and the Thunder“. A high-speed composition, carrying much of the classic Norwegian black metal at its core. The rage and tempo are not slowing down anytime soon, and we reach my favorite, „Formless and Void“.

Despite the relentless aggression, viciously tearing the space, the chorus is captivatingly melodic and hypnotic, sticky, engrossing darkness flows from the song, to which you fly with the unimaginable speeds of the next composition – „Garden ov Heaven“ which is probably the fastest paced song on the album. We’re in the whirlwind of the story and there is no escape, and the fiery arrows fly towards us one after another with a terrifiying hiss.

The Majestic Death (Love) is welcomed melancholically, but solemnly. Lightning illuminates the never ending, gloomy fjords and icy rain penetrates to the marrow of the bones. But this moment of weakness and inner revelation is short-lived and it overflows into sonical madness, because Death (Love) is a recklessness, which we throw ourselves into with the last bits of energy we can squeeze out of our bodies. It is „Wild Glorious Death“!

„Arrows of Equilibrium“ starts with Morten’s disturbing harsh and a beautiful, ethereal solo that slowly tighten the suffocating grip around one’s heart. The „Arrows of Equilibrium“ fly towards those chosen by the Archers’ lot. They whistle in the air and crash mercilessly into the weakest and most painful splaces of the soul… Requiem… and only the ominous howl of the north wind remains, which whistles among the fjord shrouded in fog… Is there life after Death… and after Love?

– „Who is the Archer?“

– „Who is God? The Archer is the key to the mystery. The one that shoot arrows of equilibrium into our world or maybe into our hearts… for you to decide.“…

Forged and designed to reflect the darkness and eager hunger of our existence, „The Archer, Fjord and the Thunder“ is a concept album dedicated to the strongest, most frightening and most mystical part of our existence – Death. Or maybe Love…? „Intensity, devotion and passion is very describing words when you speak of death, but actually these words also is the most describing words when it comes to Love.“ Morten Shax

The two most fateful and guiding events of our lives, which mark us with doom from our first cry on this world. And when we think, that everything depends only on us and the choices we make, the Archer intervenes. That invisible participant, our permanent companion, who always „confuses our plans“. He shoots his fiery arrows of equilibrium hidden among the gloomy, endless fjords, where the ice cold breath of Death and the fiery longing of Love merge into Immortality. This album will leave you hungry, thirsty and longing. Longing for shaking emotions, for self-destructive decisions, for thatindomitable pulse on the edge, that makes you feel alive.

No matter how many times I listen to this album I keep finding something new, interesting and even more fascinating. For a moment I wanted to succumb to the temptation to compare the album to something, to someone, just to give you a hint, but… ENDEZZMA are just ENDEZZMA. Passion, devotion, mysticism, magic, deep darkness and unbridled rage. All of this is the heart and soul of ENDEZZMA. And the best thing is that that suffered, but still very hard and true heart of the „old school“ will forever beat in them. That they will always be able to catch and follow the rhythm of the new time, but will never cut the roots that made them one of the legendary and cult names of the Norwegian black metal scene. Yes, THEY ARE ENDEZZMA!

“The Archer, Fjord and the Thunder” will hit the streets on the 22nd January, via Dark Essence Records and will be available in Digipak CD, digital and LP formats, with an A2 poster included with the vinyl version. It is now available to pre-order from the following:

Webshop: https://www.darkessencerecords.no/shop/
Endezzma bandcamp: https://endezzma.bandcamp.com
US webshop: https://darkessence.aisamerch.com/

Official resources:

Band website: https://www.facebook.com/endezzma
Label website: www.darkessencerecords.no

10/10