This is not a well-named record. Ôfstân (the second full-length from Dutch outfit Kjeld) translates directly as ‘distance,’ but that’s one thing I’m having difficulty achieving. The band’s skillful blend of atmosphere and aggression keeps drawing me in until I’m having serious difficulty disengaging and paying attention to anything else. Perhaps it’s the (multiple) comparisons I keep drawing between this Friesland-based band and one of my favourite luminaries of True Norwegian Black Metal – Kampfar. Kjeld’s vocalist Skier shares a gravelly tone with that of Dolk, as well as a multitude of styles – spoken, chanted, growled and screamed are all well represented on Ôfstân. That said, the Frisian lyrics themselves share the Germanic root that is present in Kampfar’s predominantly Norwegian con...
