Review by Michael on February 28, 2025.

Floris, the mind behind Dutch black metal band Schavot is a busy guy. Already releasing his third full-length album Verstrickt In Halflicht within four years, he is also active in bands like Asgrauw, Meslamtaea or Sagenland. I guess he doesn't have too much boredom in his life.

First of all you probably have a look at the beautiful cover which shows some of the stories to be told on the album (but later a little bit more about that). Again the artwork was created by Kris Verwimp who was already responsible for many other legendary artworks of some metal bands like Enthroned, Absu, Marduk and many more. So we get trapped in semi-darkness (with both the cover and the music) and this is some really spooky ride. Underlined with scary keyboards we must face some nightmarish songs. Deep growls and blasphemous, mocking female vocals (is that you, Lulu Reedfield?) also create a dense, almost feverish atmosphere. In contrast to these sinister elements you can find many synthesizers in the songs to emphasize a more fantastic yet cinematic touch, too. Of course this isn't the biggest surprise if you know that Floris is a huge fan of symphonic black metal of the 90s. But what also comes to mind is some newer stuff like …and Oceans that have quite some similarity to what is offered here.

Scahvot is a one-man-project but this time Floris got a lot of help from some friends. So it is quite comprehendible that the biggest surprises are more progressive elements like a trumpet in "Geestenjacht" (done by Izzy Op De Beeck who is also member in Maeslamtaea) and more classic heavy metal guitars (e.g. "Met Een Haak Naar De Diepte", "Verzwolgen"). All guitar solos are performed by Gerhans Meulenbeld and you might guess in which band he is involved). What I really have to confess is that it took me some time to dive into this more avantgardistic approach that you can find not only one time here. Of course it isn't that avantgardistic like stuff that Ved Buens Ende did with "Written In Waters" of the latest Dodheimsgard stuff but sometimes it is quite tough to get into. Or like what Metallica did when they cooperated with Lou Reed on the unspeakable album (not that I would call Metallica or Lou Reed black metal in any case of course).

Fortunately most of the songs are furious black metal though and not too much progression in comparison to Galgenbrok and Kronieken Uit De Nevel. In many ways there are catchy parts, a lot of melodies in the guitar lines and the keyboards so that traditional symphonic black metal fans who are deeply rooted in the 90s and albums like "In The Nightside Eclipse", "The Shadowthrone" or "For All Tid" won't be too challenged with the new Schavot.

Lyrically (and this also matches quite well to the music) because they deal with a lot of Dutch folklore. "Geestenjacht" is about the Wild Hunt, "Met Een Haak Naar De Diepte" tells us about the "Waternekker" that is a malevolent water spirit that drowns his victims or "The Lantaarn Spreekt De Weg" which is about one of my favorite mysterious creatures, the Will-o'-the-whisp. But some of the lyrics are also based on more psychological aspects like "Striijdend Voor Het Bestaan" or "Waar Schimmer Immer Dolen" so it seems to be a good combination of dream and reality.

What is left to say after the 39 minutes of this psychotic and irritating trip through folklore and real personal nightmares? Well, like the title already tells – you are trapped in the album, maybe because of its slightly more complicated approach or maybe because of the beauty that is to be found in the twilight. Verstrickt In Halflicht is a more unconventional approach to set black metal to music. It is interesting, challenging and once you get caught by the "Waternekker" also rousing. Let's see where the road for Schavot is leading to.

Rating: 9 out of 10