The thing that really bugs me about this reissue is that it is Dodheimsgard’s last album, originally out in 2007 and they have not done anything new since it came out. I have no problems with it being put out again by Peaceville at all but I wish that DHG would sort it out and get some new material together. Reading into things it would appear that vocalist Kvohst left the band around the end of 2011 although in a statement from Vicotnik this was no great deal or surprise and would not hamper the group from getting on with a new album or playing shows. Well I guess we wait for that and as it is not the first time that Kvohst has left, who knows what the future will bring. All I can add is that I am sure I am not alone in wishing they would get their proverbial fingers out.
DHG have never been ones to rush things anyway releasing just four albums over their 18 year career, every one I think it is fair to say a bit of a classic. Not hampered by any restraints within their black metal art this super group have always been highly experimental and Supervillain Outcast is no exception to the rule, in fact it is probably their most obtuse and avant-garde album.
After the Mandarin oriental opium den intro of ‘Dushman’ we are whipped off into the insane blasting of ‘Vendetta Assassin’ There is a brooding unhinged clamour permeating behind the melodies when it slows down and the assault of Kvohst’s yapped out vocals bite with a rabid fervour. Both he and Vicotnik have served time in Ved Buens Ende and Code and you will hear elements of them in both vocals and instrumentation as things progress. With a hefty electronic backbone bristling away and causing static distortions on the superbly entitled ‘The Snuff Dreams Are Made Of’ this is really varied with every one of tracks here having their distinct personality. The fall of mankind is embraced on ‘Apocalypticism (great word) with a mushroom cloud hanging over us and choking with its poisonous smog virtually oozing out the speakers. ‘Ghostforce Soul Constrictor’ strikes as post apocalyptic, the world’s gone mad and anarchy reigns and this is a perfect companion piece to the likes of Aborym’s ‘Generator.’ The soothing clean vocalised ‘All Is Not Self’ with the off kilter harmonics although a welcome release in pace is still totally disconcerting.It is a really great album and although it is only five years old it is well worth picking up if you don’t already own it.
What Peaceville have done is add An extra disc here which is certainly an interesting companion piece. We have one song ‘Senseoffender’from the session which did not make the album along with six tracks that did from the rehearsals. The moot point about them all is that they are solely instrumental. Although this is worth a listen to a couple of times it is nothing that you are likely to come back for on repeated airings but the album itself is obviously up to those. Let’s just hope it is not a sign of things to come and they find someone to fill the space left by Kvohst. The thought of a new instrumental album by DHG just won’t deliver the goods we are accustomed to.
(8/10 Pete Woods)
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