Artist: Doodswens
Country: The Netherlands
Label: Self-Released
Formats: Cassette Tape
Year: 2025
Although ‘Het Nieuwe Licht’ was already released digitally on YouTube over a year ago, the band only released a physical edition of this 4-track live set, that was recorded in February 2024, by the end of March this year. Especially in The Netherlands it is hard to deny the presence of Doodswens in the national Black Metal scene, with a good amount of shows they were hard to miss. But also in other parts of Europe they were easy to catch on the two tours they embarked with Marduk and Gorgoroth. With all those shows, Doodswens evolved in a great live act and that is accurately captured in these four tracks.
The tape opens with the untitled first track off their first demo and is followed-up with two tracks from their debut album ‘Lichtvrees’ (Svart Records, 2021), ‘In Mijn Bloe’ and ‘IJsheiligen’ respectively, and closes with ‘Vlaamse Vloek’ a new and yet unrecorded track. But although there songs are written in different times and possibly different settings, the thing that strikes most with these live versions is how consistent the band is and how well these songs flow into each other. That doesn’t mean that these four songs feel like they are the same, but they all clearly bear the same Doodswens-signature. Something that is only further amplified by Inge’s trademark vocals. Fortunately, by now woman in Black Metal aren’t anything unique anymore, but harsh female vocals still give Black Metal something special. And in the particular case of Doodswens, they do blend perfectly with the melancholic and rather classic Black Metal riffs and sound that balances on that delicious tipping point between old style creative Norwegian Black Metal and the more menacing Swedish variant. This collision of worlds, which in itself is nothing new, shows the band is capable to crafting dark, moody and utterly incantatory songs.
The recording quality then, not the least important thing with a live recording. On that I can be brief: it is truly excellent and compliments the music as a whole. Not only the songs as a musical body, but especially the atmosphere and energy of a live concert. It shows a band that is still very much underrated and should really be able to take another step up with their sophomore album, for which I hope this live cassette tape is just an appetizer. Not convinced yet? Take a look at the band’s YouTube channel for the full recording session of ‘Het Nieuwe Licht’. It’s hard not to be impressed.
At the time of writing a few of the tapes, in a run of only 66 copies, are still available. So, if you’re interested in picking up a copy, I wouldn’t sleep on it. But, even better than a tape, you should do yourselves a favour by catching Doodswens on stage yourself.
