Jernlov: Resurrection | Breathing New Life Into Black Metal
(2023 – Nordic Mission)
While we await their new album, which will be available any moment now, we’ve gotten our hands on “Resurrection,” the 2023 album by the Norwegian band Jernlov—another act from Nordic Mission’s Nordic roster, focused on Black Metal but, incidentally, one that doesn’t feel like just another band.
And the reason Jernlov doesn’t seem like just another band lies precisely in this album, which will soon no longer be their latest release, but which deserves your attention, since “Resurrection” is precisely a good starting point for exploring Jernlov’s sound—a sound centered on full-fledged Black Metal, yet one that doesn’t remain confined to that label but goes beyond it by incorporating diverse influences from various branches of Metal, giving their style a distinct flair that’s quite personal, so to speak.
They aren’t a band with a long history on the scene—in fact, their debut album was released in 2020—and it’s actually a project by two musicians: Zuriel on drums and Alf Petter on guitars, bass, and keyboards, featuring a considerable number of different vocalists and musicians, at least on this album, “Resurrection”. Names like Claudio Enzler of Sacrificium, Niclas Buss of Parakletos/Hilastherion, Jouko Jormalainen of Trébuchet SDG, Vedre of Antestor/Grave Declaration, and Eero Tertsunen of Renascent, among others, make for a varied album in terms of vocals.
In any case, what stands out most on “Resurrection” isn’t the host of guest artists but the concept itself, since it’s not just about capturing different styles in each song, but also the execution—and in that regard, Jernlov gets a passing grade.
It’s been a while since I’ve heard something so powerful, so driving, so virtuosic, and so entertaining, track by track, as is the case with “Resurrection.” Jernlov manages, in a single album, to bring out the best in himself, and to structure each song around a core that’s as Nordic as possible in terms of Black Metal, with atmospheric and orchestral elements, and even fusions with riffs and chords more closely tied to Thrash and Death Metal. But as I mentioned, it’s not the combination of different elements that’s impressive—it’s the way Jernlov successfully brings every idea that crosses their mind to fruition.
To start things off, “Resurrection” opens with the title track, carrying an emotional charge brimming with that epic quality and a touch of Dimmu Borgir—a powerful statement right from the album’s very beginning. But with “Though I’m A Wicked Servant,” the tone shifts completely; pure blast beats but with the tones and character of death metal—partly thanks to the presence of the well-known Claudio Enzler, which allows them to experiment with a different vocal tone while essentially maintaining the strength of their black metal-based style.
“Disciples In The North” is the third track, with a vibe reminiscent of Antestor—and no wonder, given that Vrede (also known as Ronny Hansen) is on vocals, lending it that blend of darkness and pure Nordic flair; the direction couldn’t have gone any other way; Next up is “Fortapt,” with lyrics entirely in Norwegian, as expected, and showing even more of its teeth—but within that symphonic, over-the-top vein of Nordic Black Metal.
The mood shifts completely with “After You’re Gone.” An atmosphere of dark yet beautiful melodies takes us down a different path than before. The tone of Ronny Hansen’s voice—once again at the microphone—adapts to something different here, making much greater use of the lower registers, which gives it a distinctly different feel from what Jerlov offers.
Meanwhile, “Salvation” embodies the more classic side of Norwegian Black Metal, beyond its harmonic lines, and “Faith” isn’t far behind, with blast beats running through its veins and riffs flying in every direction, but featuring the interesting contribution of Rita Orheim Engeset, whose vocals once again contrast with Claudio Enzler’s thick vocalizations, in a track that is masterful in many ways and features orchestral touches beyond the classic extreme riffs and chords.
“A King In Perpetuity” seems to represent the dark and heavy side of Jernlov’s unique take on Black Metal, with a compositional structure designed to blow minds, drawing on emotion in various parts and highlighting that instrumental section featuring classical guitars and keyboards in different keys. A true stroke of genius.
But Jernlov’s genius doesn’t end there. “The Final Prayer” isn’t just the epilogue—it’s one of the album’s greatest tracks. Loaded with fast riffs in the finest Thrash/Death style, here Jernlov proves why he might be one of the finest exponents of metal’s most extreme genre. A fitting finale for a great album, without a doubt.
One of Jernlov’s greatest strengths is his ability to bring together, on a single album, diverse elements from different branches of Metal and forge them into a masterpiece of Black Metal—providing compositional and conceptual unity at the core of the project while offering enough variety to keep the listener engrossed in “Resurrection” from the first track to the last.
Striking the right balance was no easy challenge, especially when working with different vocalists, and that is where Jerlov’s greatest strength lies: the perfect balance to create a powerful, masterful album that feels, from start to finish, like a significant milestone for Jerlov.
The sound is one of the key elements that contributes to the powerful sensations Jerlov evokes. Clean, powerful, and bringing cohesion to each track, the production achieves a mix centered around heavy guitar sounds. There may be a bit too much artificial “polish” to the overall sound, but even so, the album feels quite natural when played, setting aside the classic raw and ruthless sound of black metal and opting for a much more modern production in terms of the sound itself.
The cover art is something that blows us away. Designed by Jani Stefanovic (of Silence The Echo), the dark image on the album cover leaves us speechless, with many questions and that sense of unease that only magnificent art can evoke. And the graphic design of this edition is top-notch; the inner sleeve design and overall production are of the highest quality. It’s a digipack, yes, but one of such excellence that it justifies the choice of a physical format more than ever—and in case anyone isn’t aware, “Resurrection” was also released on vinyl, a more than viable option.
Jernlov is about to release his new album. It remains to be seen whether this new work can surpass what was achieved on “Resurrection,” an album that seems like a great starting point for even greater things. The excellence and consistency captured here lead us to consider Jernlov as an artist to keep a close eye on. It’s just a matter of time and listening. Jernlov has everything it takes to grow and aim even higher.
And here’s the lyric video for the album’s title track, “Resurrection,” and, as is our custom, the band’s social media handles, so you can stay up to date on the latest news from Jernlov, who, as we mentioned, is about to release his new album…
https://www.nordicmission.net/products/jernlov-resurrection-cd-pre-order
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065101444425
https://www.instagram.com/jernlov777
