RUNEMAGICK - Envenom / Digipak

Swedish Doom/Death Metal classic remastered! Doom style with thick, lumbering grooves overlaid by growls of demonic possession and wicked black chants!

Runemagick is much more doomed and extreme than a few years ago, and this is the doomiest they have ever been. The music is just as minimalistic as the booklet: produced very roughly, the creeping guitar riffs, the occasionally interspersed leads as well as the booming bass and the percussion hammering over long distances in slow motion form an abysmally evil brew, to which the occult lyrics, which are presented in the form of hateful grunts, crown the crown.

The dark occult chants which emanate from the five tracks on Runemagick’s “Envenom” pummel the listener with blunt force. The monstrous tones of “Vultures” resonate with the enormous, deeply sustained bass notes from Emma Karlsson that give this trio a distinctly evil sound. Nicklas Rudolfsson handles the guitar and vocal duties for the group, placing melodic, single-note melodies over Karlsson’s bass work when applicable, and at other times opting for a hammering chugging attack. Daniel Moilanen plays simple beats with a lot of start atop action and this technique suits the music of Runemagick very well. He places appropriate fills without overplaying and this is a key ingredient in the group’s overall sound.

Runemagick stays within the bounds of their chosen style, but they always try something new within those bounds, and for such a prolific band to keep challenging themselves is a real achievement, not to mention a treat to hear. Envenom is a wonderfully old-fashioned, extreme death doom record, that also experiments with influences from other areas, which gives the music its own character. It is really successful in terms of songwriting and craftmanship and has its own touch. Take some spins and we assure you it is worth it!

1. Vultures
2. Envenom (Laterna Magica)
3. Nebulous
4. Omnivore (Sin Eater)
5. Maelstrom