This is precisely the sort of thing that our Scandinavian brethren do so much better than everyone else. “Deer Cross The River” is a scorching yet dynamic slice of post-black metal, taking the genre’s core sound—roaring, incendiary guitars, mountainous drums, avalanches of sound, and a relentless, techtonic energy—and weaving through it, a more sculpted soundscape.
The result is an extreme of peaks and troughs, at one end of the spectrum a pummelling, pounding, and propulsive sonic blast, at the other, understated lulls and brief pauses, as giving the world time to catch its breath before the song drags us back into the fray.
And in these lulls, and elsewhere too, are the sonic marks that set Hedmark apart from the pack. Ethereal, religious vocal chants; otherworldly choruses; short, atmospheric breaks; and sonic vibes that push into post-rock realms and shoegaze, as well as the almost operatic and orchestral.
It is still music made at the more extreme end of the rock spectrum but Hedmark, essentially a solo vehicle for Gunnar Kjellsby, understands exactly how to retain the power of such music while adding musical nuance and refined sonic touches. “Deer Cross The River” is all the proof you need on that score.
