### Runemagick: Voyage to desolation/Dawn of the end

#### 10/03/10 || Daemonomania

Having loved the shit out of 2003’s Darkness death doom, I wanted to see what Sweden’s favorite Runemagicians at large were up to four years later. Had they gone melodeath with poppy clean choruses, or incorporated 15 minute neo-Classical triangle solos?

The good news is… nope. Runemagick is still Runemagick, churning out ancient death/doom from the center of the earth, albeit with a few modifications. The low-register growls which “spread my asscheeks Grand Canyon wide” have been replaced by a strangled rasp. My asscheeks have returned to their normal, clenched-against-intruders position. The guitar tone is much cleaner too. Sadly the fuzzbucket feedback moments so greatly utilized on “DDD” are history. Last but not least the songwriting has made a move to soundscape territory as opposed to catchy tunes. Which means there are fewer vocals. Since they ain’t growls in the traditional sense, no problemo.

If none of those elements had been changed, however, we’d basically have “DDDD” (the last “D” could stand for “DJ Jazzy Jeff” or “Dungbeetle”). The Runies clearly felt a need to progress. That’s just fine. Unless you’re Motorhead, Amon Amarth, or Incantation (and probably a few million other bands I can’t immediately name) people want to hear new ideas as the band grows older. Go for it dudes and dudette.

So what remains the same? The whole album still flows together as if it were one piece of music, and Nicklas Riffpower Rudolfsson never stops bringing the six string quality. Seriously one of the best guitarists the subgenre has to offer. Mojjo still provides an excellent backbone for slow material whilst being the driving force when the tempo changes. Emma the Basslady? Hard at working providing that bass fo yo face, London.

When in the right mood (read: stoned as ballz) this album can provide a wonderfilled voyage to the center of your mind. Highlights include the trippy, wah-laden “Chthonic temple smoke”, badass, lung-filling “Volcano throne”, and the chanting, trance-inducing “Magus of fire”. It sure isn’t as deathy as “Darkness”, but if you’re a fan of that album this one will tickle your dreadpickle as well. Pick it up, roll it up, light it, hit it, puff it, pass it to the Magus. Oh yeah, and for some reason there’s two different versions of the albums with differing tracklists, so don’t shit your pants if the album you buy doesn’t match what’s written below.

- Information
- Released: 2007
- Label: Enucleation Records
- Website: www.runemagick.se
- Band
- Nicklas “Terror” Rudolfsson: vocals, guitar
- Emma Rudolfsson: bass
- Daniel “Mojjo” Moilanen: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Preludium – Enter the Circle
- 02. Voyage to Desolation
- 03. Chthonic Temple Smoke
- 04. Retaliation
- 05. Volcano Throne
- 06. Incantation 444
- 07. Magus of Fire
- 08. Dawn of the End