In an entirely logical and well telegraphed series of releases Borlänge, Sweden-based quartet DÖDSRIT have transitioned their cumulative directive from post-metallic atmoblack neocrust to viably resonant melodic black metal and to their credit without alienating onlookers transfixed by the dramatism which’d held their work in clear relation. For this fourth full-length album a not insignificant tonal shift empowers rather than sympathizes as ‘Nocturnal Will‘ strides hard and swings wide throughout its ~44 minute length with a surge of wailing heavy metal melodicism at the crest of each wave propagated. Isolated from the seven year ride up to this point it’ll likely appear a very focused album with a singular voice yet the bigger picture should likewise afford the listener a redeeming enough arc’d journey toward (and within) this triumphal, resilient headspace.

Dödsrit formed circa 2017 by way of Christoffer Öster who’d previously been best known for his time in Totem Skin a hardcore punk band that’d soon evolved in its interest in melodic and post-metal inspiration throughout the 2010’s. In fact the debut full-length (‘Dödsrit‘, 2017) was supposedly originally intended to be the third LP for his previous band. The band would remain primarily a solo project for the first two releases with ‘Spirit Crusher‘ (2018) quickly iterating on the atmospheric black metal meets post-metal/crust admixture before forming a full band along with members of Destructo, Faceless Entity and other Wolves of Hades-aligned bands, including label owner Georgios Maxouris. At that point the modus of the band had expanded into mostly ~9-10 minute pieces approximating an atmospheric black metal version of Agrimonia by my observation at the time of that second album but this new version of the band and their release of a well-received third album ‘Mortal Coil‘ (2021) revealed a melodic black metal inspired sound driven by lead guitar melodies, now a far cry from the Martyrdöd-esque extreme neocrust that’d tipped the blade of that first album. This general evolution takes an even harder turn here on album number four where catchy lead guitar melodies are the prime mover and main feature of ‘Nocturnal Will‘.

The crescendo heavy tumult and watery melodramatic lilt of ‘Mortal Coil‘ was somewhat typical from my point of view. It’d been one of the main reasons I’d not reviewed it in full at the time of release so, if there is one major boon felt here on ‘Nocturnal Will‘ it is a strident ‘heavy metal’ directness found within each of the five main pieces of this album. The 10.5 minute plus opener “Irjala” hammers this point home right away and naturally overstates itself to a punishing degree as the first note of excess and bravado feeding the thematic tone and trod of Dödsrit at this newly accessible peak. Between its charging lead guitar statement, the sentimental atmo-drift of the middle portion of the song, and the notable refinement of the band’s production values “Irjala” should make quick and easy fans of anyone approaching this album outright. Though this is an easy hook and a comfortable point of entry it is not yet the major depth of the experience, nor do we find the vocals have evolved in terms of spectacle or diction to the point that the band’ve largely refined their arrangements into a more tuneful engine.

Not only is the momentum of the opener upheld within lead single “Nocturnal Fire” but I’d say it is an even more rousing song for the sake of its staircase built rise toward its payoff ~3:58 minutes in as the halfway point strikes its central melodic lead. This song in particular best explores the past-and-present glories of Dödsrit in effectively cumulative terms where they’ve not yet buried the crustier edge of their rhythmic oeuvre but this is a full step into the melodic black metal spectrum otherwise. In terms of this stylistic venture reaching its point of greater blossoming Side B provides “As Death Comes Reaping”, an equally long piece which acts as the Point B to the opener’s Point A; At this point you can draw your own line in the sand between slightly cloying melodicism and the intended triumphal edge of ‘epic’ black metal, for my own taste a more “introverted” and atmospheric album like Vanum‘s ‘Legend‘ comparatively excels for its subtleties whereas this album hammers most of its biggest points in ear via repetition and full-strength striking at its majority statement. The up front impact of ‘Nocturnal Will‘ is undeniable, a steeling experience which feels like a new level of personae achieved by Dödsrit though this doesn’t guarantee lasting interest on my part.

The full listen is enough of a ride that ‘Nocturnal Will‘ entertains in a very direct sense, swinging balls-out enough to be worth noticing even if some of the best parts of the experience allow for tactful reveal in stages, points of rest, and generally build contrast between the big lead-slinging fire that’d otherwise characterize it. Overall I’d suggest Dödsrit have made a lateral move here, giving up some typified traits of their previous album in a logical shift to a more accessible approach which is likely to yield doubled interest from the average black metal adjacent listener. The last piece of the puzzle for my own taste is some additional variety in vocal approach which might live up to this more lively command. A moderately high recommendation.

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