Welcome back my fellow black metalheads, Sean here at the Black Metal Archives, I’m still reeling from Ettinskjalf’s Between Walls and Delusion—it’s like I got trapped in a goddamn asylum of riffs and despair. I stumbled onto this German beast in a late-night haze, and it smashed me like a brick to the face—raw, brutal, and fucking unhinged. Dropped February 25, 2023, self-released by Shandor (guitars, bass, lyrics) and Skal (vocals, drums, production), this eight-track monster’s got me raging like a lunatic—let’s tear this twisted motherfucker apart!
Ettinskjalf clawed out of Germany in 2017, a two-man wrecking crew with Shandor slinging guitars and bass, and Skal hammering drums and vocals. These fuckers dropped Between Walls and Delusion in 2023, a sonic war against sanity itself.
“Without Words” kicks this shit off like a scream in a padded cell, guitars slashing with tremolo fury that’s got my blood pumping. Skal’s vocals are a goddamn howl—shrill and pissed—while Shandor’s riffs weave this chaotic, melodic storm. The drums blast like a breakdown in progress, and the bass growls low, dragging me into this madhouse—I’m hooked, fists flying, lost in the rage.
“Lazarus” keeps the chaos rolling, and holy fuck, it’s got me snarling like a beast. The guitars churn out this jagged, hypnotic haze—sharp as fuck—while the vocals rip through, wild and raw. The drums pound with relentless fury, and I’m banging my head ‘til my neck’s fucked—resurrection never sounded so goddamn savage.
“Sacrified to Shine” slows it down but cranks the weight—this shit’s a beast that grips my guts. The guitars weave mournful, crushing riffs, dripping with despair, while Skal’s voice snarls like a soul clawing for light. The rhythm section thunders, and I’m swaying, caught in its grim fucking pull—pure black metal fire.
“Between Walls and Delusion” is where I fucking lose it—the title track’s a titan that rips me apart. The guitars blaze with this raw, triumphant fire—riffs that roar like a mind breaking free—while the vocals snarl and soar, dripping with chaotic rage. It’s a standout that’s got me screaming into the void, fucking possessed by its power.
Ettinskjalf’s sound on Between Walls and Delusion is a goddamn asylum—Shandor’s guitars are a torrent of brutal riffs and dark melodies, while his bass is the deep, pulsing vein that keeps me raging. Skal’s drums are a fucking maelstrom, blasting with savage fury, and his vocals are the raw, frenzied heart—wild, pained, and perfect. In the black metal genre, these fuckers stride with the raw elite—Darkthrone’s fury, Burzum’s bleakness—but with a chaotic edge that’s pure Gorgoroth or early Mayhem, unpolished and alive. This album’s a fucking descent, a blast of madness that’s got me hooked—crank it loud, let it rip, and join me in this grim goddamn hell.
You glorious fucks reading this, tell me in the comments how this album broke your mind—I wanna hear your grim fucking tales! You can blast the full album on Bandcamp, so get your ass over there and dive into the chaos!
Stay grim, you filthy bastards, and keep the black flame burning!
