I haven't been keeping up with this band since the major disappointment of Wrath Upon the Earth, so I didn't even know they had one coming out. This is Svartsyn's eighth fucking album in their 20-year career as also-rans, and it thankfully signals a real return to some kind of form.

The major problem with their last disc (not counting their re-recording of their debut last year) is that it was a stab at a more 'modern' Death/Black sound with overproduced guitars and shit-tons of vocal effects, obviously aiming for a sound along the lines of Marduk or Belphegor and not really carrying it off. This album seems to have ditched that in favor of solid tremolo riffs, a much more organic production job, and a removal of the piles of digital effects to produce a far more live-sounding and traditional Black Metal work. A lot of the riff-work here is quite atonal and twisted, presenting a weird and unwelcoming sound, though the guitar tone is a bit smooth for my money. The songwriting is more orthodox but also trying to be more inventive, producing long, jagged compositions with a lot of interesting guitar work and riffage. Full of little twists and turns, Black Testament is the best work this band has churned out in over seven years. Worthy.