Drott‘s 2021 opus Orcus didn’t quite make it onto the RMR must-write list. That was unfortunate, but the rampant complexity of the piece and its weird out-of-the-box feeling turned it into a victim of the dreaded guillotine. 2021 was indeed a busy year full of excellent metal. And the time wasn’t right for this band’s dark musings. In the meantime, however, the folks over at the review desk had a go at the backlog – and found much to like on Drott‘s debut album. So, here we go. New world order @ RMR? Not quite. But some appetite for the unknown for sure. Occult shenanigans in dark forests.
Whilst Orcus dabbled in many different styles, Troll here delivers a mix of Progressive and Alternative Rock with a few genuinely avant-garde and experimental parts. The dark-in-grey album cover and the illustrious origins of (some of) the band members truly made us expect some hardened Black Metal with benefits to ooze from our loudspeakers. After all, Arve Isdal usually haunts the smoky halls of Enslaved, and Ivar Thormodsæter walks the hallowed grounds of Ulver. Yet none of that was to be. Instead, we found some almost ethereal contemplations based on an astonishingly modern rock setting. No Pagan Folk that many die-hard black metallists suddenly find themselves in. And no Wardruna 2.0 greeted us from the dark corners of Asgard either. That was yet another surprise. Because you see, Black Metal and Pagan Folk themes are by no means mutually exclusive.
In other words, while the aforementioned Enslaved thrives in the blackened mists of the real world, Troll is the latter’s equivalent of the dream world in cahoots with the wispy parts of Final Coil. A truly mysterious take on the ominous world of Norse mysticism.
Troll serves a somewhat austere soundscape greedily feeding on elaborate ambient passages, Matias Monsen‘s sudden cello attacks, and subtle electronica.1 Speaking of which, Drott here may lean a bit far into the World o’ Synth, but they still kept their worst urges under control and the samples at acceptable levels. All of the above comes with reflective melodies and an underlying dissonance that’s often present but strangely isn’t at the same time.
Drott‘s approach to vocals fascinated us, though. The three bandmates really are in it for the instrumentals of which you get plenty. And they happily let guest vocalists do the heavy lifting. Which again ain’t a bad thing, at all. Gaahl‘s weird crooning2 and Lindy-Fay Hella‘s3 wails go a long way towards that sense of unease and feeling of gloom.
Other records would get the label ‘repetitive’ tattooed onto their cover art as well. But Troll wallows about the soundscape in a hypnotic and almost trance-like state which got the band the ‘get out of jail free’ card for that particular crime. It just feels right for this piece. And at times this whole concoction just sounds like a meditation session gone off the rails. One that accidentally opened the gnarly gates to Asgard and let something out that nobody can control. A troll perhaps?
So, what are Troll‘s highlights? Til Stein got a lot of attention over here. That one’s repetitive to a point, but sports great atmosphere with a truly dark mood. Then, Sabbat got on our good side with its elaborate drum pattern and swirly riffing. This song sounds at times like one of those oldish horror movie soundtracks. And it is also the most accessible of all tracks on this whole piece. Fornjots Born truly got us vibes of one of those Ouija board sessions whereas Grotten registered with the folks at the review desk for its unplugged airs.
In the end, however, Drott somewhat changed tack. Orcus was full of discrete experimentation and different styles, whereas Troll seems to dwell in the subconscious with a more mature theme to boot. The record gorges with dreamy melodies, weird and wispy soundscapes, and an atmosphere that elicits a slight sense of unease. In other words, the record feels like emanating from the netherworld of the metal multiverse. Steel-clad metal warriors who left their chosen hallowed grounds of Extreme Metal and went through that famed tunnel to the other side. The result is a slightly menacing, multilayered, and often distinctly gloomy piece of work. A Sabbat worthy of your time and best consumed in one session of quiet time. Only, don’t turn down the light too much. There are witches and daemons about.
Happy trolling!
Record Rating: 6/10 | Label: By Norse | Web: Facebook (band)
Release Date: 19 May 2023