True to the meaning of Hamferd, a Faroese term for sailors lost at sea, Tamsins likam is a very ghostly album. It shares Evst’s universally sluggish tempos with matching harsh-clean shifts, but the production lends itself to a more subdued, organic sound. The guitar tone is dark and lurks mostly in the bottom end while the melodic vocals opt for a lower pitched delivery that still provides enough contrast to the deep growls. There is a sense that the musicians are holding back though it is done to suggest contemplation rather than technical inadequacy.
The actual songwriting is harder to get a feel for than the music’s aesthetic, but the tracks flow cohesively well enough to reveal their highlights. The first two tracks have some solid buildup but “Tvistevndur meldur” stands out for its bass heavy crawl while “Frosthvary” offers smooth balladry. The near eleven-minute “Vapn i anda” may be the album’s strongest track, somehow getting even more drawn out than everything that had come before it.
It may take a few extra listens for the songwriting on Hamferd’s second album to really soak in, but the band’s dedication to a haunting aesthetic is enough to draw one’s interest and keep them invested in the meantime. While the lyrics may be in a language that most of us will never understand, the restrained musicianship is stirring enough to convey the tales it tells. Fans of all things death/doom will want to check this one out and I could imagine this piquing the Viking metal’s crowd curiosity as well.
Highlights:
“Tvistevndur meldur”
“Frosthvarv”
“Vapn i anda”
Final Grade: A-
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