SORGELDOM

I've leveled my fair share of criticism at what has been an avalanche of shoe-gazing in the black metal community; some of it justified, some of it based on inundation, and some, perhaps unfairly, based on the fact that too much of it bores the ever living shit out of me. However, those bands that explore progressive black metal spaces and merely include shoe-gaze segments are far more interesting to these ears, a handful of exceptions aside. Even then the domain of the eclectic and the unconventionally structured in black metal is one in which I find satisfaction only when the mood strikes, appreciation for compositional creativity and musical adventurousness notwithstanding. Translation: some of progressive black metal with those elements is quite good and some of it works as a sonic pharmaceutical for the insomniac. SORGELDOM's "Inner Receivings" is quite good – damn good even - as a work of enterprisingly progressive black (in general terms) metal.

The story of SORGELDOM is that it began as the solo acoustic project of Swedish mastermind/multi-instrumentalist Jodöden, ultimately blossoming into the richly layered music herd on "Inner Receivings". Though not uncommon for the sub-genre, an hour's worth of it may seem a bit much, yet the album in question succeeds, thanks to ethereal excursions that are not only smartly composed, but that work within the flow of an often up-tempo and sensory stimulating affair, best experienced at full volume. And the shoe gazing moments are more than tolerable for the fence sitter and also enjoyably majestic, as exemplified by a beautiful instrumental track called "Vintern Var Hard" that could find placement on any number of progressive rock/metal albums; spacey yes, but not without vigor. The intelligence found in Jodöden's arranging shines on several tracks, no more so than on openers "I Kloaken Lattar" and "The Cold Empty Void". Both feature driving, yet nuanced, black metal with a progressiveness that alternately tinges and imbues the songs. "Inner Receivings" is not without more traditional strains of black thrashing power either. It bursts forth at just under the two-minute mark of "Darskapens Karneval" — a song that later soars into the clouds with clean singing to boot — and slays with a hair-raising riff during the title track; you'll be taken aback in both instances. Not content with the typical trappings of progressive black metal, much like NACHTMYSTIUM nowadays, "Summer Day" pleasantly surprises as a kind of classic English goth piece. Even writing these descriptions reminds me of just how engrossing Jodöden keeps the arrangements for the duration.

Regardless of one's tastes or tolerances for musical exploration well beyond the confines of traditional metal, only the most stubborn fans/critics would be unable to hear the mastery of "Inner Receivings". That doesn't mean that it is the greatest thing since sliced bagels; only that SORGELDOM is a band to watch and "Inner Receivings" is a progressive black metal album that demands praise and undivided attention.