Review HAMFERD ‘Men Guðs hond er sterk’

Hamferd started in 2008 and represents the Faroe Islands in the world of metal. Five years after having been founded, Hamferd launched with ‘Evst’ their debut album, followed by ‘Támsins likam’. The sophomore release saw the light of day in 2018 and, also due to the pandemic, the launch of the next longplayer took a bit longer than maybe expected.

Now it is done and ‘Men Guðs hond er sterk’ hit the shelves. A thing that stands out right away is the dynamic of this release. The sextet played together in the studio and therefor it is a special atmosphere that accompanies this longplayer. Like the nature of the North ‘Men Guðs hond er sterk’ is majestic and dark. Listening to the album creates pictures in listerners mind. Grey clouds are covering mountain tops and it is the surreal melancholy of nature that’s reflected on this album.

‘‘Men Guðs hond er sterk’ combines many variations of metal. There are post-metal moments that are corresponding with blackened elements and at the same time there are goth moments that are all acting as ingredients to an emotional and gloomy sound.

‘Glæman’ is a good example for this emotional journey and although the song is kept darker, it is the strong emotional impact that gives you the shivers. This kind of music isn’t just written to get the song writing done. Each of the songs has an emotional impact and comes straight from the inner soul of everybody involved.

Next to these calmer moments are songs like the thundering opener ‘Ábær’. While the clean vocals of Jón Aldará enrich ‘Glæman’ the guttural growls on the opener are providing a glimpse into the darkness of the human soul.

Another big benefit of this album is the consistency as the second half of ‘Men Guðs hond er sterk’ can easily compete with the first songs. The atmospheric ‘Fendreygar’ with its cold breeze from the north is a great song and the same goes for the following ‘Hvõlja’ with its doom-driven riff in the beginning. The entire weight of the world is put into this riff and what follows reminds partly even of funeral doom. It’s like the maw to heel would open and absorb the listeners in the depth of evil.

‘Men Guðs hond er sterk’ is a versatile and malevolent album. At the same time, Hamferd stick to their basic musical principles while combining furious riff attacks with calmer and almost fragile moments in which the inner soul speaks. ‘Men Guðs hond er sterk’ – a real blast from the north.