WAGNER ÖDEGÅRD – OM KOSMOS OCH DE TOLV JÄRTEKN LP (Altare Productions)

Via a multitude of parallel channels, the prolific artist behind Wagner Ödegard has been responsible for crafting a rich and unique bounty of sublime Black Metal over the past two decades, most notably through Tomhet, Wulkanaz and the latest three full-lengths recorded under this eponymous moniker. While there are a lot of ambient recordings in the ever-burgeoning Wagner Ödegård discography, it’s the Black Metal material that’s most captivating and ‘Om Kosmos Och De Tolv Järtekn’ is another magnificent emission from this inimitable, one-of-a-kind Swedish maniac.

As with pretty much everything he lends his hands and voice to, the music hereon is organic and spontaneous, imbued with a personal vision and touch that renders it way above the norm / average. On first impression, there’s an inherent simplicity to proceedings but it’s utterly uncanny how ingeniously infectious the songs are, worming their way into the brain with frightening ease. Short and to the point the songs may be, but each one represents a work of true underground Black Metal art, superbly conjured and executed.

The trademark Kumulonimbus raw and punky edge is always close to the surface but there’s an uncompromising, contemptuous Black Metal spirit to be detected as the music pours forth, crashing and bouncing into the ether, channelled from the psyche of a tortured and inspired lone northern wolf, the perfect combination of darkness and madness embellished by a rare musicality and song-writing prowess that hooks the listener from start to finish and never lets go.

The magic of Wagner Ödegard is such that upon second listen (and there will undoubtedly be countless more thereafter) the twelve enchanting songs on ‘Om Kosmos Och De Tolv Järtekn’ already sound wholly familiar. Defiant, rousing and refreshingly independent, haunting and immediate, this is another essential release from the twisted mind of one of the great artists of our times. Recommendations do not come easier – or more confidently offered.

Evilometer: 666/666