Buy here:
Follow Kvaen:
There are many great extreme metal bands in Sweden, but only one from Kalix. This remote beauty spot near the Finnish border, on the northernmost shores of the Baltic, is home to Jacob Björnfot, creative mastermind behind melodic black/death metal project, KVAEN.
A sumptuous but bitingly intense exploration of beauty and violence, KVAEN’s “The Formless Fires“ is a melodic black metal masterwork radiating an inspirational sense of place. Even more than 2020’s folky, speed metal-infused debut “The Funeral Pyre“ or 2022’s compelling, expansive follow-up, “The Great Below“, the vast pine woods and icy lakes are powerfully evoked in the elemental gloom riffs, chilly melodies, and windswept solos running through these eight mighty songs.
Assisting in this record’s immersive sweep are Björnfot’s fascinating lyrics. Like many Swedish songwriters, his use of English reveals a love and care for the language that few native speakers even bother to rival. If this album seems less intimate and more universal than the raw candor of its predecessor, it’s only because Björnfot’s knack for allegory has improved. Illuminating some of the lyrical themes, Björnfot asserts “I love mythology. ‘Basilisk’ is, for example, the king of serpents but is rarely mentioned by the mainstream. ‘The Perpetual Darkness’ is about being born different from those who are ‘normal.’ It is also about being a lone wolf and banished from society. That song has become a personal favorite of mine.” Additionally, ‘De Dödas Sång (Song Of The Dead)’ tackles the disturbing theme of Ättestupa, the ancient Norse suicide ritual whereby elderly villagers jump to their deaths from sheer precipices.
KVAEN:
Jacob Björnfot – everything
KVAEN Live Lineup:
Jacob Björnfot – vocals/guitars
Kristian Gustavsson – guitars
Rasmus Rova – guitars
Per Lindström – bass
Fredrik Andersson – drums
1 view
143
36
5 months ago 00:05:54 1
Kvaen - The Ancient Gods (Official Video)
6 months ago 00:45:30 1
Kvaen - The Funeral Pyre ( FULL Album) | Black Lion Records
6 months ago 00:39:19 1
Kvaen - The Formless Fires (FULL ALBUM)
6 months ago 00:05:31 1
Kvaen - The Formless Fires (Official Video)
6 months ago 00:05:17 1
Kvaen - The Wings of Death (Lyric Video)
6 months ago 00:06:48 1
New Metal releases 2024 Week 25 (June 17th - 23rd)
7 months ago 00:33:15 1
Melodic Black Metal Discoveries May 20th 2024
7 months ago 00:04:44 1
KVAEN - The Great Below - feat Jeff Loomis (Official playthrough Video 2021) | Black Lion Records
9 months ago 00:08:42 1
The World Goes Black Metal (25 Countries / 25 Black Metal Guitar Riffs)
1 year ago 00:04:32 1
Kvaen - The Great Below Live @ Gefle Metal Festival 2023
1 year ago 00:06:13 1
Ondfødt - Mörkri (Official Music Video)
2 years ago 00:39:05 1
Melodic Black Metal 2022 Full Album “Kvaen“ - The Great Below
2 years ago 00:07:24 2
Kvaen - In Silence (Track Premiere)
3 years ago 00:07:24 1
KVAEN - In Silence (Official Lyric Video 2022) | Black Lion Records
3 years ago 00:39:04 1
Kvaen - The Great Below (Full Album)
3 years ago 00:03:57 1
KVAEN - Sulphur Fire (Official track 2022) | Black Lion Records
4 years ago 00:06:30 2
KVAEN - Bestial Winter (Official Lyric Video) 2020 | Black Lion Records
5 years ago 00:45:30 5
Kvaen - The Funeral Pyre (Full Album)
5 years ago 00:06:53 1
KVAEN - The Funeral Pyre (OFFICIAL AUDIO)
5 years ago 00:04:36 1
KVAEN - YEE NAALDLOOSHII (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO)
5 years ago 00:01:28 2
KVAEN - EXCERPT OF THE DEBUT ALBUM//Black Metal (Sweden)
5 years ago 00:04:45 1
Kvaen - YEE NAALDLOSHII *(DRUM VARIATION) - Black Metal (Sweden)
5 years ago 00:04:37 2
KVAEN - Yee Naaldlooshii (OFFICIAL AUDIO) - Black Metal (Sweden)
5 years ago 00:04:15 2
Kvaen - Septem Peccata Mortalia (Official Audio 2020) - Black Metal (Sweden)