On today’s release, we listen to this often-intriguing pairing of depressive and atmospheric black metal.

Starting with three tracks of Denver’s Saeva we are presented with mostly dry and hard-produced mid to high-tempo drums forming an effective rhythmic base on which the project sets a well-known sound of strongly distorted guitars and pulsating bass in the background. But instead of becoming just another post-black metal project, Saeva‘s music surprises us with those slow and warm, maybe even careful, melodies which shine through all the darkness like rays of light on a dark and stormy day. One could maybe even see the order of these three tracks build up from the fragile tunes of “Rose“, shimmering through its walls of sounds and the singer’s nearly wordless cries of agony, to the slow and moody “You“, with its clean and melancholic lyrics, which give this song a thoughtful feel before it opens up to a bright and hope spending last melody.

The Split’s second half gives us just a short moment of swelling in its droning but easy synthesizer surroundings, introducing us to the first notes of Dysthymia‘s part of the EP. It’s only a single song, but these twenty minutes are enough to dwell in. “This Will Not Destroy You” takes all the time it needs so vocalist Gru‘s lyrics can describe a tiresome protest, a frustrating strive against the grey, old status quo, exhausted but also angry. These lyrics sit well both in Gru‘s high screams as well as these cleanly sung passages that create a wonderful contrast to the else wild and thriving music. A memorable recitation that feels just as desperate and exhausted as they read. It is also surrounded by well-produced riffs and pushing drums. The strong and clean mixed bass adds some unique, well-matched flavour to the still raw and wild sound, which will hopefully convince all of those who thought of Saeva as too mild.

A deeply melancholic and atmospheric gathering of two projects that create great soundscapes with both intriguing melodies and interesting writing. These artists match quite well showing us each their idea of both, DSBM and atmospheric black metal. And both are sounding great while doing so.

⚔️ SAEVA ⚔️
BC: https://saeva.bandcamp.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/SaevaOfficial/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/saeva_official/

⚔️ DYSTHYMIA ⚔️
BC: https://dysthymiaband.bandcamp.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Dysthymiaband
IG; https://www.instagram.com/dysthymiadsbm/