When I first heard about the Slovenian black metal band Srd, it had been recommended to me while looking for more of the blackened arts to listen to. Although I had been burned out by the genre at that point, Srd stood out because they play a delightful blend of black’n’roll, and their previous record, Ognja prerok, completely rewired my brain. Thus, when it was announced that the band was going to release their third full-length, Vragvmesiton, I jumped at the chance to see what they had been up to since Ognja prerok.

First track “Kačji Mašeljn” has an intense, blistering start, with fast blast beats, a melodic rhythm, and dissonant atmosphere before slowing down into a more black‘n’roll sound. Although it tends to pick up speed when the vocals are screamed, the music, for the most part, remains consistent. After all, you are here to heed the call of someone who calls for assistance in fighting for his ideals. The music is an afterthought, the podium on which to stand on. This war cry sweeps you in euphoric furor, knowing full well that this might end in tragedy, but you have been preparing for this moment. Therefore, it’s rather surprising when the euphoria settles and the second track “Môra” starts off with an acoustic intro that gives the listener a false start before falling back into black’n’roll. Although not as blistering as the previous track – it has an icier feel in comparison – it follows the musical theme established in “Kačji Mašeljn.” “Môra” has the atmosphere of a second-wave track but with modern nuance: it has a catchy chorus, it has a chaotic instrumental part towards the end of the track, and it’s incredibly memorable.

It’s after these first two songs, however, where the music becomes more open, as if Srd has shed their skin and have decided to step out of their comfort zone. For example, third track “vragvmesiton” sounds like a chant that turns into a complete earworm, compelling me to repeat the song at least twice to fully appreciate the effect it had on me. It also becomes more experimental, as it moves away from their black’n’roll sound by emphasizing the “roll” part of their music. “vragvemesiton” has a rather upbeat, rhythmic section that wouldn’t work anywhere else except on this record. While this could be seen as strange and off-putting, especially if you like your black metal to sound like the howling wind, I see it as an extension of the band’s musical palette. That upbeat nature is also seen on “Mrtvaški ples,” where the band’s instrumentation gets a moment to shine. Relegated to mostly act as the spine to the vocals’ lead, the instrumentation here flawlessly incorporates various influences, creating this catchy yet solemn track that showcases the band’s ability to shift from their usual style. Ranging from punk to what sounds like a ballad, Srd manages to show why they are able to create memorable music that makes you want to repeat it again and again.

As an aside, I also wanted to mention the vocals, as they are the main highlight Vragvmesiton offers. Vocalist Goran Slekovec is fantastic, a looming presence that demands your attention, every scream and whisper important to the task at hand. His vocals are also unlike anything else I have heard in most black metal, as he half-growls and is easy to understand within the context of the music. Although I cannot understand a single word without wanting to pour over a dictionary or ask for a translation from someone who knows Slovenian, I love the emotion behind them. It makes me want to sing along, even though I know my pronunciation is going to be terrible. If anything, the vocals add to the overall vibe Vragvmesiton brings, and I enjoy it a lot.

All in all, Vragvmesiton is a highly enjoyable record, one that never wears out its welcome even after repeated listens. Although it may not follow the throughline of black metal that Ognja prerok was working with, its experimentation suggests that’s a possible direction for Srd to evolve as a band. After all, this is black metal – why shouldn’t you sprinkle a little color in it?

—Hera

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Vragvmesiton is available now on On Parole Productions. For more information on Srd, visit their official Facebook and Instagram.