Review KARAVAN ‘Unholy Mountain’

Norway has more to offer than solely black metal. Karavan, hailing from Jæren, Norway, is a band that found a musical homebase in another field of metal. Although having a blackened morbidity being entailed in each of their songs, the band lasers in on a blend of doom, sludge, and stoner.

With ‘Unholy Mountain’, the trio launched a debut album already some weeks ago while these days, the vinyl and cassette format follow.

If you would combine YOB and Sleep you would come closer to the sound of Karavan. What the trio out on their debut is pure musical flexing. Powerful riffs, a thundering rhythm and the hoarse vocals are key elements of this sound, music that reflects savage Norwegian wilderness.

‘Throne’ is the starting point for a 44-minute ride and it is an atmospheric beginning. A psychedelic start, that is what ‘Throne’ offers before the song unveils its brutality by the joining riff attack. Hypnotic fascination unfolds right away and captivates listens immediately.

‘Unholy Mountain’ features epic songs when it comes to length but also show some songwriting cleverness. ‘Bonfire Ritual’ is a song that mirrors the mention by different layers that meet a morbid heaviness. ‘Unholy Mountain’, the title track, shares a similar approach and you quickly find yourself in a sinister frenzy. It seems like these riffs pump adrenaline in your veins while ‘Mars’ is as viscous and hot as lava.

‘Rot’ is the exception when it comes to length. Three minutes, that is almost close to nothing when it comes to Karavan. Still the tune carries all the trademarks of the band, just in a boiled-down and without vocals. It might not be the best song on the album but acts as a twist in the tracklist.

Karavan is an interesting new band that has some potential. Since they have the debut in the books, a crucial first step has been taken and let’s see what the future will hold for the three Norwegians.