Album Review: Kvaen - The Great Below
Reviewed by Richard Oliver
During the numerous lockdowns we have had in the last two years music has been the one solace for me and the lack of a social life during that time afforded me plenty of time to discover even more new music than I normally do. One band I came across was Kvaen which is the solo project of multi-instrumentalist Jacob Björnfot and I was suitably awestruck by the 2020 debut album The Funeral Pyre. Two years later Kvaen is back with album number two The Great Below and if you enjoyed the first album then you are going to love this new one.
Kvaen has a sound that is rooted in Swedish melodic black metal but also draws in elements of speed metal, thrash metal and viking metal resulting in a sound that is furious, blackened, melodic and epic. Drawing from multiple influences allows the album to deliver a certain degree of variation in its songs from the melodic black metal fury of opener Cauldron Of Plagues, the thrashing carnage of the title track, the dark and melodic In Silence, the aggressive yet catchy Sulphur Fire and epic and majestic Ensamvarg.
Jacob is also joined by a multitude of guest musicians on the album with all drumming covered by Tommi Tuhkala (Spell Of Torment), guest vocal spots by Nephente Fridell (Netherbird) and Mathias "Vreth" Lillmåns (Finntroll) and guest guitar spots by Jeff Loomis (Arch Enemy), Mike Wead (King Diamond) and Sebastian Ramstedt (Necrophobic).
The Great Below pretty much picks up where The Funeral Pyre left off but with that extra bit of fire and fury in the music. For me this is an album that ticks all the boxes - black metal fury, thrashing goodness, epic melodies and glorious guitar solos galore. Kvaen have managed to build on the momentum of their debut album and release a sophomore that is equally as good if not better. I can see this album ranking highly in my album of the year list. Go and listen as it is absolutely glorious.
