Artist: Countess / Wrok
Country: The Netherlands
Label: Wolfkult Religion
Format: Spit 7” EP
Year: 2025
With the release of the Split Necromantical Worship and The Nameless Shrine, Wolfkult Religion already dove into a little bit of more recent Dutch Black Metal history, even though both bands heavily worship bands of the late 80’s and early 90’s. But a little while before that, the label had already paid homage to the Dutch Black Metal scene with two bands that have been around for 30 years or more. We’re of course talking about ‘Geknecht door de Dood’, a Split between Countess and Wrok.
Countess or Dutch Black Metal may not be on the tip of anyone’s tongue when it comes to the most influential to the genre, but that is noting Countess could lose any sleep over. Ever since their inception in 1992, the band has done their own thing and has stuck relatively close to their beliefs: stripped down Black Metal that marries Celtic Frost with 90’s Bathory. What Countess offers on ‘Raven Banners Fly’ is galloping Black Metal with very clear roots in the 80’s. Enhanced with keyboards for extra color, the song is straightforward, old school and utterly epic and catchy. A clear example of no frills but pure honest quality. While the track presented here was already featured on the 2023 EP ‘Live by the Sword’, that release was only released digitally, so if quality wasn’t enough then this 7”EP is a also great opportunity to own more physical Countess material.
On the other side of the 7” we find Wrok, a union that has was born already in 1996. While nowehere near as active as Countess, their 2022 album ‘De Dood Roept’ was an impressive example of old school rooted Black Metal, and the band continues with these two new songs. ‘De Hand van de Meester’ is rather merciless pummeling, and even though the distortion on the guitar is rather minimal, the influence of early era Darkthrone cannot be denied. Clear parallels with another Dutch Black Metal band of old, Bestial Summoning, are undeniable too and Wrok also seems to draw inspiration from Hellammer, and acts like Beherit and Barathrum. The latter is particularly clear in the buzzing riffs of ‘Uitgebroed om te Sterven’, operating at a more midtempo pace. Like Countess, Wrok is a no nonsense sort of band, emphasing a few good riffs with spirit vocals and rattling drums. These even take on a militant tone, adding more merciless drive to the tracks. I respect that the band does not hide themselves behind walls of distortion. This is simple, merciless and honest Black Metal rooted firmly in the early years of the 90’s
Two bands that go back to the early days of Dutch Black Metal, both showing their excellence through straightforward and pure focus on the riff. On the grander scheme of things, Dutch Black Metal may not have been a frontrunner in the global Black Metal explosion, but releases like this show there is much strength in that Dutch Black Metal underground of old. And no doubt, anyone with a heart for that old school sound will be pleased with this Split 7” EP.
