Månen ska lysa din väg, the Prosthetic Records debut from Post-Hardcore four-piece Svarta Havet, is a melancholic menagerie of quaint aggression, and being the first release from the Finns on a new label, it’s a damn good first showing.

The monochromatic cover art is by no means a mistake or a coincidence, because the contents of this record are bleak, frosty, and forlorn. The drumming is consistently excellent throughout, providing both guidance and jumping-off points for a sound that only grows more infectious as the LP progresses.

There is as much sadness and desolation on Månen ska lysa din väg as there is ferocity and intensity. Opener “Göm Dig” has an introduction that excels at portending a haze of depression cast over a despairing scene. Scorching screams opposed by a charming piano outro both nail the intention of the Post-Hardcore subgenre. 

“Djur” presents doomy undertones alongside killer atmospherics, and features yet more impressive, adept screaming. The opening riff even seems to conjure the tones of Slayer. 

Svarta Havet channel such palpable vigor and venom, and the emotional whirlwind slams the listener in both the ears and the heart. The bluntness of the direction the record goes in is effective and appreciated, and the subtle melodies that prop up here and there means that each song carries its own weight, allowing every track to independently shine. 

“Härlig Är Jorden” settles into a gripping tale rife with both polish and disdain. The drums once more are wonderfully emphatic and precise. “Avgrunden” is dirgey and morose, and a disturbance builds over the course of the track which further highlights the music’s intent.

There’s so much to like about Månen ska lysa din väg, and Svarta Havet already proved they deserve to be perched alongside the best Prosthetic has to offer.

Buy the album here:
https://svartahavet.bandcamp.com/album/m-nen-ska-lysa-din-v-g

8 / 10
MATT COOK
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