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Vreid > Pitch Black Brigade > Reviews
Vreid - Pitch Black Brigade

A different kind of blackened militarism. - 82%

hells_unicorn, November 23rd, 2019
Written based on this version: 2006, CD, Tabu Recordings

It's difficult to discuss the folk metal craze that has been ongoing for the past couple decades without the name Windir coming into the conversation. Although they were more closely associated with the Scandinavian black metal scene of the 90s, they were an early entry into the practice of adding outlandish things like an accordion into the mix, and helped to set a trend that is still very present in Europe and beyond. It naturally stands to reason that given the band's untimely demise due to the tragic end of its front man that any subsequent projects involving any members of the Windir clan, let alone a majority of those originally in congress, would be instantly compared to the seminal offerings of folksy black metal that ushered in the current millennium. Thus stands the great predicament that Vreid continues to face in being a band made up almost entirely of ex-Windir instrumentalists, yet featuring a sound that is quite different from the pioneering niche that defined the latter. Then again, with respect to this outfit's 2006 sophomore effort Pitch Black Brigade, there are some common elements to be found here that could rope in the average folk metal head turned prospective black metal trustee.

Though in a generic sense this album could be described as black metal of the more melodic persuasion, this barely scratches the surface of all the various moving parts that manifest from one song to the next. If it could be said that the original synthesis of black metal with folk music that these musicians dabbled in previously were the result of an underlying proclivity for experimentation, then this album could be regarded as a returned to the genre-splicing laboratory with a wider array of compounds to mix together. The basic template is that of a thrashing variant of black metal with some punk elements, occasionally even veering into similar territory to where Darkthrone was at around the same time with The Cult Is Alive. However, this Norwegian fold decides to run the gamut of styles that have every been spliced together with black metal in the preceding decade from ambient, industrial, and symphonic elements to even the occasional old school heavy metal riff, effectively morphing an otherwise straightforward album into an abridged anthology of sorts that checks off just about every possible box from the glory days of the second wave.

Despite the highly varied presentation, there is a sort of rustic, simplistic charm that permeates every facet of this album and makes it highly accessible. Riding off of a production that is moderately raw, yet also well balanced and featuring a notably polished drum sound, even more basic forays into early 90s black metal classicism such as "Da Draumen Rakna" (which could almost be direct nod to early Immortal) and "The Red Smell" have a sense of layered coldness that is a bit denser than a typical 1990s black, but nowhere near the pompous character of Dimmu Borgir's mid-2000s albums. Likewise, the more punk-infused romps in "Hang 'Em All" in all its d-beating glory and the more thrashing "Left To Hate" (which also features a rather blatant homage to Reign In Blood era Slayer at the tail end) sound a bit punchier and heavier that the crackling fuzz of later 2000s hardcore-infused Darkthrone. All the same, this album pretty much wears its affinity with the previous decade's Nordic blackened fair quite often, with the ambient turned quasi-symphonic experiment "Eit Kapittel For Seg Sjolv" splitting the difference between Gorgoroth, Burzum and Enslaved, while a more war-like nod to vintage Darkthrone is found in the de facto title song "Pitch Black".

At first listen this album may come off as a tad quirky, and it arguably goes a little overboard with emphasizing ancillary stylistic gimmicks, but this is definitely among the more solid slabs of black metal to come out of the mid-2000s that wasn't either trying to be rawer than Ildjarn on his worst day or trying to rival Nightwish with how much symphonic bombast it could cram into things without turning into said band minus the operatic soprano. It manages to buck a number of negative trends in black metal by putting a bit more emphasis on the bass, often giving it some solo slots to give things a sense of contrast beyond the obligatory switches between thrashing riffs and blasting tremolo lines, not to mention featuring a production quality that isn't tinny or in any way top heavy. It should appeal to fans of Windir, though anyone approaching this with an expectation that it will go about trying to continue the same specific style that they left things on with Likferd is setting themselves up for disappointment. This is typical black metal played in arguably the most atypical way possible, and barring some tolerance for a few quirky musical asides, it's a solid presentation the whole way through.

Innovative work form veteran musicians - 96%

Incinerated_Glory, February 22nd, 2008

I know what you are all thinking. "This isn't fucking WINDIR! I wanted some folk laden black metal and instead I get this album. " If you want the truth I heard this before I heard more than one album, Likferd, from Windir and I think Vreid is one of the greatest Black/Thrash metal bands out now. Let me explain.

This album is not typical Black metal. It has assorted parts from Black metal to symphonic to odd synths to punk to thrash.

The band utilizes these elements and harnesses them in a blend that is unique and groundbreaking.

The title track, Pitch Black Brigade has everything to do with Black/war metal. Its quivering riffs and cold vocals are great and the thrash element is still present throughout.

The Wild Card of the album and probably my favorite track is Hengebjørki weighing in at 9:21 Hengebjørki is a trance inducing song that nods towards Burzum, Trance, Medieval, Pagan Black metal and more Industrial bands like Zyklon. Just listen to the opening 2:15 and you'll see what I mean.

Eit Kapittel For Seg Sj�lv opens with a Burzum/Satyricon like opener and swarms into action with a 7 minute wave of Black metal with an odd Bass line. Transitions in the song are very synth/Covenant (Nexus Polaris) oriented and make you think that you are transcending through a vortex or someone just played some Morior Ergo Sum keyboards in a cave.


All in all this album illustrates innovative ideas. So this 96 goes out to all the Windir fans that were expecting that. Yes Windir are an awesome Black/Folk band but this albums Epicness mixed with Raw Black/Thrash is something to be appreciated.

So if you want an album that isn't the same old Black metal this is it.

Best Tracks -Hengebj�rki and Eit Kapittel For Seg Sj�lv

This is not Windir - 75%

Nahsil, July 10th, 2007

What this is: the remnants of Windir (+1) playing venomous black metal with a punk edge. Don't expect vast viking soundscapes or a folk metal extravaganza and you may appreciate "Pitch Black Brigade" for what it is.

Vreid have a tough legacy to live up to, but in my opinion they perform as well as can be expected. This is certainly not a timeless masterpiece like "Arntor," but it does have its strengths. First and most noticeable is the production. The guys at Subsonic Society did Vreid a great service when they mixed PBB. The riffs are clearly discernable with the right amount of overall graininess; the bass is up in the mix and lends powerful lows, something too often overlooked in black metal. The drums succeed in raising all hell, specifically the punkish bass kicks and ravishing blasts, providing a breeding ground for the incredible atmosphere that the lyrics corroborate. No, seriously, this is one black metal release where lyrics matter. It would be an absolute waste to listen to "Pitch Black" and ignore the sense of chaotic pandemonium created by the music and lyrics in league:

"A new regime without crown or king
Ruled by ice cold cadaver discipline
A ravenous destruction of all civilian resilience
A blackened way on this blackened day "

Vreid's lyrics hint at the kind of oppressive nihilist society you would find in Orwell's 1984 or Huxley's Brave New World, and it's a convincing exhibition with relentlessly pestilent black metal backing it up. Also, Vreid's vocals are clean enough that the words are easily understandable.

Unfortunately, "Pitch Black Brigade" is not without its shortcomings. You have remarkable tracks such as "Left to Hate" and "The Red Smell," full of riffs that dominate, and coarsely callous atmospheres, but the latter half of the album is less consistent. Roughly half of the album keeps me coming back for more, but the other half I'm content to skip over. Even the capably tremolo-picked riff progression in songs like "Hang 'em All" doesn't stop it from feeling half-assed after the maelstrom that was tracks 2-5, partially due to a lack of the same shrieking black metal vocal ferocity exhibited in those songs. Some tracks feel more like obligatory and very standard examples of the genre, instead of the unique approach taken on "Hengebjørki" or the aforementioned "The Red Smell" (which has a hypnotically psychedelic chorus).

All said and done, when it's good, it's good, and when it's not quite as good, it's still well above canonical black metal fare.