Review by Jason on April 3, 2012.

"Spyhorelandet" is the sophomore full length release from the Norwegian band Formloff who has been lingering amongst the metal scene for around a decade now. As the album’s press release states, this record is a grim portrait of that which we as humans create. “When you peel back the skin, no matter how beautiful, what is left is the ugly personal histories each of us carries.” Their statement here rings true, and is felt throughout "Spyhorelandet" in its entirety.

Every track within is dripping with atmosphere and pain, acting as a reflection to our darkest moments in life. Slightly twisted Black Metal landscapes engulf the listener in all they have done. Progressive themes pulse under the drone, coming in to play in rather organic, natural manners which for the most part succeed in amplifying the potency of this albums theme. Keyboards, brass instruments and other odds and ends fit their way perfectly into select portions of songs never coming off as forced.

Musically, execution is superb, though far from demanding. Composition sits at the forefront of this entity, as it should. Layering is thought out and complements both harsh and laid back portions of songs adding both feeling and progressive vibes. Rarely do tracks wallow on paths for too long, or change too rapidly. It is not done without an occasional stir though, as the band seems to struggle with a few of the more aggressively punctuated segments they implement.

At the end of the day, when dealing with a piece such as "Spyhorelandet" one can largely judge its success by its ability to keep the listener consistently immersed. While on occasion repetitive vocal arrangements can pull the listener out of their dive into this release, as a whole it succeeds quite splendidly at keeping you submerged in every passage offered. Implementation of fresh ideas woven into the frequently traveled atmospherically charged Black Metal terrain certainly aids the release, but is never used as a crutch. In conclusion, Formloff will properly engage fans of both Black Metal and those longing for something slightly different with this LP.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 7
Originality: 8
Overall: 8.5

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by Felix on February 25, 2020.

One thing is for sure, these three dudes from Spain have studied the Immortal covers very intensively. The picture that ornaments Guerra Eterna looks like the South European reply to "Damned in Black" or "Sons of Northern Darkness". Anyway, the music does not copy the palace guard of Blashyrkh. A black thrash intermezzo like that of 'La marca del herejo', for example, has never shown up on an album of Immortal. And generally speaking, the Spanish trio prefers a more rumbling sound. Even albums such as "Pure Holocaust" follow an almost fragile approach in comparison with the here preferred style. Apart from the solemn 'Ritos funerarios' and the atmospheric 'Depositio haereticorum', Sacrificio set the focus on a strategy that partially borders on bestiality. In other words, Iron Bonehead Productions sticks to its guns and sensitive minds better stay away.

Yet Sacrificio integrate some non-essential elements as well, for example sublime background choirs and timpanis. I have no doubt that they gave their best to create a good album, but here comes bad news: Guerra Eterna is anything else but a masterpiece. The problem is simply identified. These guys do not know how to pen a compelling song. The seventh track begins with a morbid melody which is accompanied by the aforementioned choirs. Its slightly oriental touch has almost the power to send shivers down my spine. But a more or less abrupt break gives the song another direction. A meaningless solo hurt the atmosphere, further solos appear, and the track is going nowhere. The fundamental riffing does not lack of brutality and sharpness, but it cannot gain the upper hand against the vacuous solos. And things get even worse. The hoarse, non-charismatic voice takes command and the drummer seems to play another song. At the end, they return to the morbid lines of the beginning, but the battle is already lost.

This crude and somehow irritating structure does not remain an isolated case. Pretty good parts are connected with completely strange and misleading sections. As a result, I cannot recommend any highlights of this work. One needs an affinity for slightly eccentric songs which try to combine ugliness, brutality and eerie melodies in order to praise the here collected pieces. Too bad that the band forgot to create a certain density. Especially the rather fast-paced parts lack of compactness and robustness. Dynamic parts that really have an evocative effect remain a rare asset. Maybe it is no coincidence that 'La sombra en la ciénaga' kicks off the album, because it develops a certain energy and dynamic. The guitars play a very good role in this tune, in particular the lively solos. Anyway, this is not enough to impress the black metal world sustainably. To listen to Guerra Eterna is not a waste of time, but there are tons of better works, inter alia almost every album of Immortal.

Rating: 5.5 out of 10