Svartidauði (Icelandic for Black Death) is a Black Metal band with members from Reykjavik and Kópavogur, Iceland. Formed in 2002, they have since grown into one of the most well-known and respected Black Metal bands from their distant subarctic home island, with many of their compatriots, including Misþyrming and Sinmara, naming them as an important influence. As is common in the Icelandic scene, there is quite a bit of overlap between those bands regarding members as well. In fact, they are sometimes credited by fans and critics with having started the Icelandic Black Metal movement with its distinct sound. Their style has been described as abrasive and chaotic, and occasionally compared to Deathspell Omega due to the heavy use of dissonant chords, though it is less Avantgarde-influenced and rather straight-forward, and does feature more melodic and atmospheric passages from time to time.
Since the beginning of their career, the band has released two full-length albums, Flesh Cathedral (2012) and Revelations of the Red Sword (2018), along with several EPs and Demos.
Members
- Sturla Viðar - Vocals, Bass
- Þórir - Guitar
- Magnús - Drums
Discography
- Temple of Deformation (Demo) - 2006
- Adorned with Fire (Demo) - 2009
- Those Who Crawl and Slither Shall Again Inherit the Earth (Demo) - 2010
- Perdition / Svartidauði (Split) - 2012
- Flesh Cathedral (Studio Album) - 2012
- The Synthesis of Whore and Beast (EP) - 2014
- III.XX.MMX (Live Album) - 2014
- Hideous Silhouettes of Lynched Gods (EP) - 2016
- Untitled (EP) - 2017
- Revelations of the Red Sword (Studio Album) - 2018
Svartidauði provides examples of the following tropes:
- Avantgarde Metal: Downplayed, as while their style is often compared to Deathspell Omega, who are widely considered the Trope Makers of avantgarde black metal, their music is generally more accessible and direct, if still a bit experimental when compared to classic black metal.
- Black Metal: Among the most popular examples of both the Icelandic and the more dissonant variant.
- Epic Rocking: It's much easier to name their songs that are shorter than 6 minutes, though some songs stick out.
- All four songs on Flesh Cathedral are longer than 10 minutes, with Psychoactive Sacraments being the longest one at 18:37.
- In the Hood: They tend to cover their faces with hoods in band photos and earlier live shows, though nowadays, they only cover the lower halves of their faces with bandanas when playing live.
- Longest Song Goes Last: Applies on both studio albums with Psychoactive Sacraments (Flesh Cathedral) and Aureum Lux (Revelations of the Red Sword).
- Loudness War: DTHTRP, which might also qualify as their hardest song.
- Metal Scream: Sturla's deep roars would qualify as a a Type 2.
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Signature Song: Flesh Cathedral
