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However interesting the "New Wave of Icelandic Black Metal" may be, thanks especially to artists like Wormlust/Ljáin/Afsprengi Satans (how about that HV Lyngdal), Svartidauði, and Naðra, the psychedelic oppression of their hyper-localized scene isn't exactly be what I would immediately associate with Iceland. Prejudicial, I'm sure, but Iceland, at least in my mind, is characterized in a more isolated, ancient sense, rather than the modern detachment we have come to enjoy so much. The home of the Sagas and many lifestyle-defining folk legends calls for its equal in cold mysticism, mastered so perfectly by newcomers Endalok. Quickly following a promising demo released later last year, the eerie atmospheres of this mysterious troupe's new Úr Draumheimi Viðurstyggðar recall the beasts of old, an array of gnashing troll's teeth hidden in dense, frigid fog. Recalling and acting as an emotional foil to the former glory of fellow countrymen Potentiam, Endalok's brand of ethereal black metal expanse concentrates more on the hollow sounds of terror and the fearful unknown from which sprouted Legend.

Úr Draumheimi Viðurstyggðar will be released this Friday on Signal Rex. Head below for an advance listen of the full EP.

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From the artist:

Úr Draumheimi Viðurstyggðar’( Icelandic for ‘From a Dream world of Abominations’) is a collection of songs sculpted out of dreams and states of Hypnagogia, those peculiar moments in between sleep and wakefulness. We start the journey off with ‘Afskræming holds og sálar’ a song about how you view yourself affects your view of everything else. It’s an interrogation with the beast of internal conscience and how negativity alters the view of the external world, essentially leading to alienation.

On ‘Eldhaf’ I explored themes of resurrection. I had a vision of a humanoid creature caught in a swirling cycle of death and rebirth. Driven to cleanse thyself through self-burning, dying and being born again only to do the same again, a rather dull reality. Ultimately said creature finds solace in its empty existence. ‘Jarðarfarasálmur’ (meaning ‘Funeral Pslam’) is a compact song and a rather personal one. In short it’s about communication after death.

‘Ekkert varir að eilífu’ is a tiny ambient tease before we end the Journey with ‘Holdgerving Andskotans’, where we continue with the same theme as ‘Afskræming holds og sálar’. It’s more of a personification of the beast of conscience and a direct confrontation.

I don’t want to go too much into this last one, since it’s a bit personal. All in all these songs have the common thread of internal struggle and finding confidence in spite of hopelessness.

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Follow Endalok on Bandcamp and Facebook.

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