Svartsyn, meaning something like ‘black vision’ or ‘seeing black’, is an underground black metal band from Sweden. The band originally started out under the name ‘Chalice’ and recorded a split demo with the Swedish band Illska in 1993. After that, Svartsyn produced several more demos and as much as five full length albums (including “Bloodline”). The band line up changed heavily over the years, the only stable factor being Ornias (guitars) who was with the band from the beginning in 1991. Other members are/were: Tormentor (1991-1993), Surth (1994-1997), Draugen, from Dark Funeral (1996-now), Kolgrim (1997-2000) and Mörk (2000-now).

“Bloodline” is an album that was already recorded and mixed in 1997-1998, though it was unreleased until now (2005). As, noted before, the band line up was different at that time (being Ornias, Kolgrim and Draugen). This music on this album continuously roars over you like a massive war machine fuelled by blazing hellfire. The raw black metal Svartsyn creates really builds up a dark and hateful atmosphere and is not easily compared with any other black metal band.

Perhaps it’s comparable with Moonblood, which also creates this shivering overwhelming feeling, truly dark black metal with a small amount of simple but effective melodies. Somehow several parts also remind me to early Deathspell Omega, perhaps some of the shrieking guitar parts. This, combined with a not too sterile production, makes “Bloodline” a truly great album.

The final two songs on the album were taken from the Tormentor EP from 1997 (the song “Goatthrone” also appeared on the album “The True Legend” from 1996). The music isn’t very different from the current Svartsyn album, though the production of the songs is worse; the guitar sound is quit weak in contradiction to the blasting drums. Still, if you’re used to listening to bands like SVEST and Moonblood, the songs are well enough.

Great black hateful metal, spread the curse!