Review by Dominik on July 5, 2025.

I won’t be divulging any secrets here, but it’s fair to say that without the Norwegian black metal scene of the early '90s, we might not have the genre as we know it today. Back then, it seemed like 11 out of 10 bands hailed from Norway. But fast forward a few decades, and Norway's once untouchable throne has grown a bit wobbly (in fact more than a bit, just my useless empathy at work here). It feels like the place that birthed the second wave of black metal started resting on its laurels, had some terrible dreams, woke up, and decided to reinvent itself in ways that, frankly, leave me wondering if “I am” the problem. Maybe it’s like an ad campaign where, if I don’t get it, I’m just not the target audience. Take Darkthrone’s recent releases—did I miss the latest dispatch from the crypt, or is this what’s hot in the streets of Oslo now?

Thankfully, a few Norwegian bands remain steadfast against the current, keeping the flame of traditional black metal alive. Enter Whoredom Rife, a band that is less interested in innovation for innovation’s sake and more focused on keeping the core elements intact. Since their self-titled EP, Whoredom Rife has stuck to their guns, releasing high-quality black metal with a Norwegian heart—no post-anything nonsense, no avant-garde twists, just pure, uncut black metal. And I have to tip my hat to them because, unlike some other bands I could mention (“cough” Darkthrone “cough”), these guys are getting better and better without burning their original principles on the funeral pyre. If they ever get tired of playing black metal, they could start their own political party—after all, they’ve got what today’s politicians lack: authenticity, integrity, and a knack for rousing a crowd without pandering.

Their latest offering, “Den vrede makt”, picks up right where its predecessor left off and, I dare to say, even cranks things up a notch. The title track kicks the door down with no preamble—Whoredom Rife doesn’t waste time warming up, and the intensity hits from the get-go. If there’s one thing they excel at, it’s taking a handful of great riffs and hammering them into your skull—over and over. But here’s the thing: despite this repetition, the songs never feel stale or overdone. Come what may, they manage to work these riffs relentlessly without crossing into monotony. In fact, even after 11 and a half minutes of the slow-burning “The Beautiful End of All,” the song maintains its grip, you’re not bored or thinking about turning the CD into a frisbee. Somehow, despite the slow, creeping pace, they keep you engaged and entranced. Sure, I personally tend to prefer the faster, more ferocious tracks, but there’s no denying the mastery of atmosphere here.

For the adrenaline junkies, tracks like “Phantom Sword” deliver in spades. The track is a battering ram, mixing galloping riffs with massive, stomping sections that hit like a Viking raid. It’s that perfect blend of ferocity and finesse that keeps “Den Vrede Makt” from just being “another” black metal album.

As for the musicians themselves, their performances are tight, raw, and relentless. Vocalist K.R. howls, growls and spits with a venom that’s as cold and unforgiving as the barren Norwegian winters. V, the multi-talented “all instruments” guy is a monster behind the kit, perfectly balancing blast beats with slower, more crushing rhythms. And his guitar work? Absolutely top-notch. He delivers riff after riff, each one sharper and deadlier than the last, slicing through the mix like a sword through soft flesh.

In conclusion: while “Den vrede makt” is an excellent addition to Whoredom Rife’s discography, it doesn’t quite reinvent the wheel—or need to. They’re staying true to the black cause, and in doing so, they’ve crafted a rock-solid black metal album that hits all the right notes. But in a genre built on pushing boundaries, a bit of risk could push them even further. Still, I’d rather have a band that knows what they’re about than one that loses itself in trying to be everything to everyone.

Rating: 85/100, because Whoredom Rife proves that sometimes less is more—not relying on useless gimmicks or following trends, but instead refining their sound with each release and staying true to their Norwegian roots.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review by Jeger on June 16, 2024.

Since 2014, Norway’s renowned Whoredom Rife have stood atop a most coveted vantage as champions of - say it with me now: true Norwegian black metal. BM for war, for power and for revenge. The duo consisting of V. Einride (all instruments) and K.R (vox), have released four exceptionally rated LP’s - each one a weapon of a recording - gushing much? Definitely… Some artists just get it, and what they get is the ethos and the history, the tales forlorn and the olde Gods! And all tracked into sound by way of genuine, true-to-form Norse BM. On May 31, Whoredom Rife struck up vengeance’ tinder and set ablaze entire kingdoms under the banner of their latest LP, Den Vrede Makt, unleashed via the exclusive Terratur Possessions. 

With Den Vrede Makt, Whoredom Rife cut six tracks clocking in at fifty minutes worth of pure, uncut and quite frankly, intangible black metal: atmosphere looming but never overbearing, a nice balance between smooth paradiddles-driven sequences/blast-beats and the blessed union of harmony & melody. And I’ve only described the opening titular track… Easy on the blast-beats, and I don’t mean less, just like that… down tempo’d and silky smooth to accompany the rolling fluidity of the following cut, 'Fiender', as it propels you wantingly through tremolo passage after mesmerizing tremolo passage. Godlike bellows boom through the blackened, lightning-cracked azure just before hypnotically melodic leads blast you through nightmarish soundscapes where kaaos and all power converge into a sonic upheaval of scorched earth and then! Lull you to sleep… but in a good way. You getting all this? All phases crisp and textured without also sounding sanitized. It feels like you’re right there in studio and just surrounded by the album’s stellar mix. No escape, wouldn’t want to. Ah, 'The Beautiful End Of All'. How some of us long for it and with this cut, you can expect all proper melancholy and somberness like a fucking drill, penetrating through your cortex, driven by jackhammer rhythms and despairing melodies. An epic! A gorgeous end to what’s been an album-of-the-year contender. 

True Norwegian fucking black metal through and through and without a shred of fat to trim. Enchanting yet wretched and heavy yet intoxicatingly melodic. Whoredom Rife - proving once again to be the cream of the contemporary Norwegian black metal scene. Sharpen your steel now and prepare for rage, prepare for revenge! But mainly just elite-level black metal of the traditional but also of the dynamic variety and packaged beautifully as always. Here’s to Norge! Hails to Whoredom Rife… 

Rating: 10 out of 10

Review by Dominik on July 5, 2025.

I won’t be divulging any secrets here, but it’s fair to say that without the Norwegian black metal scene of the early '90s, we might not have the genre as we know it today. Back then, it seemed like 11 out of 10 bands hailed from Norway. But fast forward a few decades, and Norway's once untouchable throne has grown a bit wobbly (in fact more than a bit, just my useless empathy at work here). It feels like the place that birthed the second wave of black metal started resting on its laurels, had some terrible dreams, woke up, and decided to reinvent itself in ways that, frankly, leave me wondering if “I am” the problem. Maybe it’s like an ad campaign where, if I don’t get it, I’m just not the target audience. Take Darkthrone’s recent releases—did I miss the latest dispatch from the crypt, or is this what’s hot in the streets of Oslo now?

Thankfully, a few Norwegian bands remain steadfast against the current, keeping the flame of traditional black metal alive. Enter Whoredom Rife, a band that is less interested in innovation for innovation’s sake and more focused on keeping the core elements intact. Since their self-titled EP, Whoredom Rife has stuck to their guns, releasing high-quality black metal with a Norwegian heart—no post-anything nonsense, no avant-garde twists, just pure, uncut black metal. And I have to tip my hat to them because, unlike some other bands I could mention (“cough” Darkthrone “cough”), these guys are getting better and better without burning their original principles on the funeral pyre. If they ever get tired of playing black metal, they could start their own political party—after all, they’ve got what today’s politicians lack: authenticity, integrity, and a knack for rousing a crowd without pandering.

Their latest offering, “Den vrede makt”, picks up right where its predecessor left off and, I dare to say, even cranks things up a notch. The title track kicks the door down with no preamble—Whoredom Rife doesn’t waste time warming up, and the intensity hits from the get-go. If there’s one thing they excel at, it’s taking a handful of great riffs and hammering them into your skull—over and over. But here’s the thing: despite this repetition, the songs never feel stale or overdone. Come what may, they manage to work these riffs relentlessly without crossing into monotony. In fact, even after 11 and a half minutes of the slow-burning “The Beautiful End of All,” the song maintains its grip, you’re not bored or thinking about turning the CD into a frisbee. Somehow, despite the slow, creeping pace, they keep you engaged and entranced. Sure, I personally tend to prefer the faster, more ferocious tracks, but there’s no denying the mastery of atmosphere here.

For the adrenaline junkies, tracks like “Phantom Sword” deliver in spades. The track is a battering ram, mixing galloping riffs with massive, stomping sections that hit like a Viking raid. It’s that perfect blend of ferocity and finesse that keeps “Den Vrede Makt” from just being “another” black metal album.

As for the musicians themselves, their performances are tight, raw, and relentless. Vocalist K.R. howls, growls and spits with a venom that’s as cold and unforgiving as the barren Norwegian winters. V, the multi-talented “all instruments” guy is a monster behind the kit, perfectly balancing blast beats with slower, more crushing rhythms. And his guitar work? Absolutely top-notch. He delivers riff after riff, each one sharper and deadlier than the last, slicing through the mix like a sword through soft flesh.

In conclusion: while “Den vrede makt” is an excellent addition to Whoredom Rife’s discography, it doesn’t quite reinvent the wheel—or need to. They’re staying true to the black cause, and in doing so, they’ve crafted a rock-solid black metal album that hits all the right notes. But in a genre built on pushing boundaries, a bit of risk could push them even further. Still, I’d rather have a band that knows what they’re about than one that loses itself in trying to be everything to everyone.

Rating: 85/100, because Whoredom Rife proves that sometimes less is more—not relying on useless gimmicks or following trends, but instead refining their sound with each release and staying true to their Norwegian roots.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review by Jeger on June 16, 2024.

Since 2014, Norway’s renowned Whoredom Rife have stood atop a most coveted vantage as champions of - say it with me now: true Norwegian black metal. BM for war, for power and for revenge. The duo consisting of V. Einride (all instruments) and K.R (vox), have released four exceptionally rated LP’s - each one a weapon of a recording - gushing much? Definitely… Some artists just get it, and what they get is the ethos and the history, the tales forlorn and the olde Gods! And all tracked into sound by way of genuine, true-to-form Norse BM. On May 31, Whoredom Rife struck up vengeance’ tinder and set ablaze entire kingdoms under the banner of their latest LP, Den Vrede Makt, unleashed via the exclusive Terratur Possessions. 

With Den Vrede Makt, Whoredom Rife cut six tracks clocking in at fifty minutes worth of pure, uncut and quite frankly, intangible black metal: atmosphere looming but never overbearing, a nice balance between smooth paradiddles-driven sequences/blast-beats and the blessed union of harmony & melody. And I’ve only described the opening titular track… Easy on the blast-beats, and I don’t mean less, just like that… down tempo’d and silky smooth to accompany the rolling fluidity of the following cut, 'Fiender', as it propels you wantingly through tremolo passage after mesmerizing tremolo passage. Godlike bellows boom through the blackened, lightning-cracked azure just before hypnotically melodic leads blast you through nightmarish soundscapes where kaaos and all power converge into a sonic upheaval of scorched earth and then! Lull you to sleep… but in a good way. You getting all this? All phases crisp and textured without also sounding sanitized. It feels like you’re right there in studio and just surrounded by the album’s stellar mix. No escape, wouldn’t want to. Ah, 'The Beautiful End Of All'. How some of us long for it and with this cut, you can expect all proper melancholy and somberness like a fucking drill, penetrating through your cortex, driven by jackhammer rhythms and despairing melodies. An epic! A gorgeous end to what’s been an album-of-the-year contender. 

True Norwegian fucking black metal through and through and without a shred of fat to trim. Enchanting yet wretched and heavy yet intoxicatingly melodic. Whoredom Rife - proving once again to be the cream of the contemporary Norwegian black metal scene. Sharpen your steel now and prepare for rage, prepare for revenge! But mainly just elite-level black metal of the traditional but also of the dynamic variety and packaged beautifully as always. Here’s to Norge! Hails to Whoredom Rife… 

Rating: 10 out of 10