Scandinavia, and for that matter much of mainland Europe, have produced an incredible amount of angry bands over the years. Mnemic, Evergrey, Hieronymous Bosch, Dimmu Borgir… the list is both tongue-tangling and endless. This year’s Tuska Festival (or for those that are interested, ‘pain’ festival) in Finland was just one such example of the popularity of this branch of music on the continent. Central Helsinki was full of metal maniacs desperate to feel the wrath that was on offer.

Danish metallers, Brudevalsen, are the latest hopefuls to emerge from this heated scene, but make no mistake; ‘hope’ is a theme that couldn’t be further from this incredibly aggressive release. Having said this, Brudevalsen aren’t a simple case of ferocious metal, and though it might not sound sober to suggest it, it’s as if their sound is a peculiar hybrid of stoner rock and particularly melodic, melodic death metal!

Christian Sindermann’s vocals fluctuate between the calm and sedate towards the mightily pissed off – and that’s just on the one track! That track, “Nothing Left” is the highlight of Brudevalsen’s “2005” EP and encapsulates the peculiar brand of music that the band is currently crafting. Catchy guitar hooks, guttural vocals and even the slightest of nods towards Depeche Mode… go figure.

“Loss” is yet another track that starts off sounding like something quite instantly accessible – in this case Queens of the Stone Age – only to quickly jolt into a hardcore assault. This varied approach is amplified further still with the haunting funeral melody of “In This World” which morosely closes the EP.

Brudevalsen are treading along a different – albeit not too far flung – path from many heavy Scandinavian bands of the moment, and it is within this that their main appeal lies. Hopefully they will continue along this unique and appealing trail.