Holy smokes, Satan! Mannveira just got played five times on repeat while I swivel on my chair at Al Necro HQ multi-tasking with great difficulty. The reason being that the music on Mannveira’s Von Er Eitur is absolutely spellbinding. I’m having to follow the rung notes to the speakers that give them life in my home office, and I have to say that I really missed out on this band writing my 2014 End of Year List. This is one sure-fire black metal release!
They never let things lurch. They do slow down some, but mostly they hover around blasts and mid-tempo moshing. Things never stall and get boring. From the first blastbeat to the last cymbal crash, Mannveira render an audience prostrated with absolute amazement.
Mannveira like to use the double-kick on some segments. The drum patterns on Von Er Eitur are impressive. Dudes, Al may occasionally splice some hot wax on a band with lesser aesthetics, but trust the Necro Enforcer on this one. Mannveira totally rocks!
After all, it isn’t blasting end-to-end that makes for a truly good listen. The tempo changes are important. Meatheads, if yer punters snooze, yer loze! If you hear end-to-end blasting with little nuance, you’re either gonna hit pause or unplug the sound system altogether. You’ll probably take second glances at it to make sure you’ve put the dubious record on permanent vacation.
Mannveira score a knockout here. On one end-of-year list after another in 2014, there was little sign of this quality act. Perhaps it’s criminal to even call them under-appreciated. Von Er Eitur weaves some songs like a spiderweb and then get you stuck on their melodies like you’re its next meal.
No highlight tracks. There are only three azzkickers on this release. Absolutely support for whatever ransom the band ask for on Bandcamp. If you like black metal that occasionally cruises mid-tempo, lets the notes ring out with mastery, tremolo riffs the stuff of ages, and feature vocals that sound like they’re echoing from a black hole leading into the bowels of putrescent earth, you’ve got this wrapped up in Al Necro rhetoric to give you your much-needed graces. Listen and get what I mean.
There’s an outro that’s eerie! I’m not one for intros and outros, fiends, but Mannveira record blood dripping from a chalice somewhere in a dingy, dark cave. Spook your sissy friends.
CVLT Nation HQ served me notice on this here demo classic. I am bestowed of the sudden realization that the underground can’t ever be underestimated. Forget FYE, trendies. Follow CVLT Nation to whatever ends it may lead you to. I’m prepared to offer true testimony of Mannveira’s superior songwriting prowess. May you tap your foot, bang your head, and pump your fist until the coming of Eschaton, friends. Iceland, home of bands such as Sinmara and Svartidaudi, is home to Mannveira as well. Hail the new black metal elite! Hail Mannveira!
