Background/Info: Undirheimar is one of the latest signings by Cyclic Law. The project has been introduced as ‘Undirhaimar is a corpse, a vehicle through which Thursian primal antinomian current is manifested within this world’. It in a way reveals some of the project’s main sources of inspiration resulting in the six tracks of this work.
Content: Behind this Icelandic title you’ll discover an album with two sides. We first get three impressive and overwhelming cuts revealing a perfect balance between ritual- and dark-ambient music. Some throated singing parts appear to be an essential element in the work accentuating the ritual aspect. On top of it all you’ll notice heavy, epic arrangements.
Next we get three long duration pieces, which are mainly driven by the specific and unique throat singing. It reminds me of Phurpa albums.
+ + + : The first three cuts of this work are simply brilliant. The dark atmosphere mixed with the ritual elements and epic arrangements on top create an original, but obscure, anguishing sound. Both debut cuts leave an impact on you; it feels like evil creatures composing bewitching music to convert poor mortal subjects. The slow progression of the tracks reach a total climax, like a morbid, transcendental experience.
– – – : I like the technique of throat singing, which has this natural, ritual effect, but the three last cuts of the album are just based upon this single technique. It creates some monotony, which is a bit disappointing after the astonishing debut.
Conclusion: “Heljarrúnar” is an album with two sides: three exceptional tracks to take off and three soporific tracks to conclude!
Since you’re here …
… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading Side-Line Magazine than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. And unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can. So you can see why we need to ask for your help.
Side-Line’s independent journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we want to push the artists we like and who are equally fighting to survive.
If everyone who reads our reporting, who likes it, helps fund it, our future would be much more secure. For as little as 5 US$, you can support Side-Line Magazine – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.
The donations are safely powered by Paypal.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.