Dvalin – ‘Ravenous Dreams’ (EP 2023)
Rating: 8.7/10
Release: 3 November 2023
Label: Independent
Unlike a lot of the more progressive influence Folk Metal bands out there, Germany’s Dvalin has returned after a hiatus of several years to bring out a new EP entitled, “Ravenous Dreams”. In reality, the album is really only three tracks, as the intro runs at under a minute, but the content of those three crushing tracks lands them squarely in Progressive Metal territory, the folk being somewhat toned down, limited to some ambient elements on “Indeterminacy” and on “Omen (pt. III)”. When it plays a major role in the song as it does in parts of “into the wasteland” the violin manages to perfectly capture a somewhat forlorn and ominous atmosphere, and the song itself is so richly varied between progressive elements and somber melodies, that the folk instrumentation becomes just another peak in the soundscape Dvalin presents. All the tracks clock in at only 21 minutes, but not one moment feels boring, or uninteresting, the songs do feel long at times but fortunately the band has managed to write music of that vein where the riffs if not just the vocals keep the listener invested. This is something this reviewer enjoys about good progressive rock or metal when it presents itself, and this is no different. Genre purists will also enjoy that there is a decent foundation of Death Metal present in the release, and that the music never slackens its intensity at all, except for the more atmospheric and moody elements on “Into the Wasteland”. Overall, “Ravenous Dreams” by Dvalin is a solid release, and if they will release a full-length album in the coming years or even another EP, it would be well worth the effort, especially if their debut album is of comparable quality to their new EP.
Tracklist
- Time instrumental
- Indeterminecy
- Into The Wasteland
- Omen (Pt.III)