Album Review: Helvitnir – Wolves of the Underworld

Band: Helvitnir
Title: Wolves of the Underworld
Label: Dusktone
Release date:  March  14th,  2025
Country: Norway
Format reviewed: High-Quality Digital Rebeing consumed by flamescording 

Album Review: Helvitnir – Wolves of the Underworld via Dusktone by Sílvia

Beware, worshippers of Black Metal: here’s an album that provides nothing but an overwhelming immersion in the 90s classic sound but with a clean production and the spirit of breaking boundaries between the old and the present days.  Welcome to a devastating journey to the underworld.

Helvitnir was formed back in the day by Hellcommander, Ihizahg and Bjarkan, when they three decided to part ways with Ragnarok. A bit after, Hellhammer completed the lineup and the hellish gathering was complete. And “Wolves of the Underworld” it’s now been released via Dusktone, an Italian label with an impressive catalogue.

I’m sure these guys have built their instruments in a forge in Hell, as their sound is devilish, obscure, full of malign vibes. This album opens with “Throes of Transformation”, and you just need a few seconds to lose your mind with that infectious riff, the gut shaker sound of the bass, the brutality of drums and oh when that sick scream tears the air… Now you are in the underworld, you can’t escape the evil grip of tortured souls, and maybe you’ll become one of them. I feel like descending to the inferno and being consumed by hellish flames, damn, this is so wicked and devastating!

This first track is a total banger and after this awesome 5 minutes ride you are wondering if the entire album will maintain this insane level of brutality. And as the album progresses you notice it’s not slowing down nor falling into weakness. All the tracks are solid as infernal stones, totally worshipping the classic Black Metal era but also with an extra punch of melody in their tremolo riffs and a more clean production. 

As you can imagine just by looking at the titles, the lyrics talk about creatures of the underworld, death, anti christianity, Norse mythology, evil forces, the total nothingness… Hellcommander is responsible for this brilliant task. And he has a characteristic vocal style, his voice seems to emerge from a destroyed and torn throat, spitting his nasty gnarls and screams in the listener’s ear and infecting their brains with rot and sulfur. Want more? He is also the one playing the low notes, I’m sure he can summon some malignant forces when he plays his bass with that deep resonance. The tortured souls in Hell rejoice at that mesmerizing sound. I’m especially hooked on “Draugr” when it comes to the bass… really, can’t have enough of it!

In terms of malignancy, the infamous guitar duo formed by Ihizahg and Bjarkan play as many wicked riffs as you can barely stand. The sound is ominous, the two axes entwine constantly in infectious tremolo riffs with (sometimes) a bit of a melodic approach. They two build an oppressive atmosphere that becomes a sinister, raw and cold blanket. But you can’t find comfort under that cloak, only pure evil ecstasy. Well, maybe that’s what you were looking for, in that case, you’ve been lucky… 

And if all this was not enough, here’s Hellhammer at drums providing the ultimate devastation to these 9 tracks. His playing is insane, due to his maintained velocity, his repertoire at tom rolls, blast beats, his double bass drum pedals being mercilessly smashed by his tireless feet, everything is constantly destroyed in his drum kit. Special mention to his brutal delivery in “Helheim’s Throne”, where he is constantly overwhelming the listener with his non-relentless supply. 

The way these four musicians use all their tricks during 42 minutes is spectacular, without a single moment of weakness. They demonstrate great mastery on all instruments and in vocals, complementing each other perfectly, driving you on a journey of no return to the deepest abyss.

I’m devastated. I had great expectations after Helvitnir released the first single of the album in January. It was “Throes of Transformation” and the bar was set very high. And, honestly, I expected nothing less than excellence from skilled musicians coming from bands like Mayhem, Ragnarok and Myronath among others. This is a brilliant Black Metal album,  it deserves 10/10  Sílvia

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10/10  Immortal Classic
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