Arstidir Lifsins – Vapn ok vidr

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It’s amazing how Metal iconography and philosophy are spreading throughout the globe embracing different people and culture. If the media were to be really fair, Metal had to be chosen as the global musical moviment, but unfortunately this world is everything but fair. Today’s review subject is Arstidir Lifsins with “Vapn ok vidr,” which I don’t dare to translate – in fact, I don’t trust Google Translator to do it (Google Translator told me it was Hungarian, but with a quick look through Google I discovered it’s Icelandic). Technology is great when it works, I always say that. Finally, Arstidir Lifsins are from the distant and gelid Iceland where even the most hardcore Metal fan would believe there are relevant bands. Digging a little bit deeper, I discovered that Arstidir Lifsins means “‘the seasons of life,” which is a proper name to what the band does in terms of music and lyricism.

Loyal to their norse cultural and musical roots, in this case I mean modern culture in the flesh of Black Metal standards, Arstidir Lifsins play a vigorous music, though sometimes they step down a little in speed and velocity. In fact, “Vapn ok vidr” is one of those deceptive albums that I keep on referring. First track “Fornjots synir ljotir at Haddingja lands lynladum” is a blast to the layman ears to start with. I confess the first time I heard I wasn’t in the mood of such carnage. But I kept my promise of listening bands once, twice, or even more if needed. The truth is that after a little while, from second track Arstidir Lifsins on reveal their real façade. Arstidir Lifsins deal with both profane and sacred with their songs full of religious references not only in the iconography, but also in their music. There are lots of religious chants that embelish many tracks. Arstidir Lifsins work very well with what I call Metal dialects, or paradoxes and contradictions.

Arstidir Lifsins “Vapn ok vidr” was released on April 26th via Ván Records.

Track Listing:

  1. Fornjots synir ljotir at Haddingja lands lynladum
  2. Sundvrpudir ok ara ytr
  3. Morðbál á flugi ok klofin mundriða hjól
  4. Lif a milli hveinandi blodkerta
  5. Stng od gylld fyr gngum rafi
  6. Sidar heilags bra solar ljosi
  7. Vandar jtunn reisti fiska upp af vtnum
  8. Fregit hefk satt
  9. Haldi oss fra eldi eilifr skapa deilir

Watch “Morðbál á flugi ok klofin mundriða hjól” official video here: