Info
- Band(s): Wurgilnõ
- Label(s): Fetzner Death Records, Rotting Sun Records
- Release Format(s): Cassette, CD
- Release Year: 2024
- Review Date: November 1, 2024
- Author(s): VincentP
That Consanguineus’ will, passion and inspiration does not wane has become clear with the pace at which he has propelled his latest project Wurgilnõ. Within a year of the release of the debut album ‘De Doden Rusten Niet in Vrede’, we were not only treated to an appetizing EP with the title of ‘Angst’, but the second album has also been recorded and now released. Time to dig into ‘Krijtland’, offering us eight new tracks inspired by Limburgian sage and a bit of family history.
Those that have followed our pages may have read that Wurgilnõ is very much the sum of Consanguineus’ musical taste. This has led to a Black Metal sound that is firmly in the vein of the second wave but certainly does not restrict itself to any boundaries and is infused with profound fascination for the Dutch province of Limburg. With ‘Krijtland’, the musical journey of Wurgilnõ continues with the sound found on ‘Angst’, meaning an overal rawer and slightly more grim sound than on the debut. Something we can only encourage, as, to come with an early conclusion of sorts, this slight shift has made the music even more convincing than on the debut.
The heads literally start rolling with ‘Kop op het Blok’, a song about public executions. It’s a song with a menacing opening with Consanguineus’ hoarse hiss dictating the armosphere. Again evident is the thick rumble of the bass, which proves to be an X factor in the sound of Wurgilnõ. And the way the song ends in a minute long solo shows not only the harsh side of the coin, but also a sense of beauty. I guess some people really enjoy a good decapitation. In ‘De Lijdensweg van Entgen Luijten’ we are served with a threatening atmosphere, fitting the story of the last witch to be put on trial in The Netherlands. Her suffering and mysterious death are immortalized in the song, draped in an almost uncomfortable and pressing atmosphere that is marked by dynamic tempos. The subsequent ‘Voor de Eeuwigheid Gehangen’ is a more personal song, dealing with an ancestor of Consanguineus that was part of the infamous Bokkenrijders. His hanging is caught in a grim tale that is spun out in a more midpaced song infused with a clear love of Heavy Metal. ’1928’ then tells the story of an explosion in a mine that cost the lives of thirteen men, allegedly at the hand of the devil. With a venomous pace, the song has atonal and skincrawling twists and a haunting yet catchy double vocal chorus where the raspy throat is antagonized by clean singing. The song even threads into the realms of the likes of Candlemass and Solitude Aeturnus, and marks the glorious versatility that Consanguineus has put in the band.
With ‘De Nachtdwaalster’ we continue in a venomous tempo, telling the tale of a seductress at night who lured away men into their deaths. At first with a strong sense of monotony, the song reminds me of the earliest Immortal records with its oppressive sound. The rumbling bass at a midtempo marks the two subsequent tracks ‘Het Wilde Heir’ and ‘De Pest’, dealing with the tales of the Wild Hunt and of the plague. But both songs develop quite differently as ‘Het Wilde Heir’ is a more threatening track, clearly portraying the luring danger of the Wild Hunt that comes to sweep down on humanity. ‘De Pest’ is a more pulsating song with an opener sound, which almost has an embracing sort of atmosphere while describing the smell of the dead bodies in the city.
The album then reaches it apotheosis with the lengthy title track, which tells the tale of the history of Limburg. Known for the chalk that was formed over time, it bears millions of years of history. From the wars it saw to the Roman empire and even the great beasts that once roamed the region when it was still a sea, the chalk from the soil has been used in buildings, thus still forming a large part of the daily lives of the inhabitants. Once again presenting the harsher side of the Wurgilnõ sound where the bass plays an almost Iron Maiden-esque role, the song is a representation of a brewing storm, where clouds slowly darken the sky. But after the escalation of pace, the song turns into a glorious dragging riff that will form the main theme of the remaining minutes of the song. ‘Krijtland’ really offers everything that Wurgilnõ has in it, from the pressing darkenening atmosphere, the piercing touch of a rain shower, and the elation after the skies have cleared.
Despite that Consanguinus is a veteran of the Black Metal scene that doesn’t mean he hasn’t stopped learning. ‘Krijtland’ feels as if he has further refined what Wurgilnõ should sound like, building upon the framework laid by the debut and in particular the ‘Angst’ EP. The result is an icier and more venomous record that is even more convincing, whether it’s in the furious tempos, captivating solos or slower sections. An even better follow-up to an already impressive debut!
Wurgilnõ
- Country: Netherlands
- Style: Black Metal
- Links: Homepage, Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp, Spotify
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Fetzner Death Records
- Country: Germany
- Style: Black Metal, Doom Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal
- Links: Homepage, Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp
