I’ve spent a lot of time this past week watching footage from the volcanic activity in Iceland, not only seeing lava exploding from the Earth but also seeing videos of people in their homes as the explosions rocked their worlds. It’s a stunning, humbling thing to witness, even from a distance, and it’s another reminder we are so tiny in scope, and we can be devoured at any second.

Icelandic black metal duo Helfró create music that could very well be homages to nature’s unquestioned power, but on their second record “Tálgröf,” the destruction is from the inside of one’s mind. The band—guitarist/bassist/vocalist Simon Thorolfsson, drummer/vocalist Ragnar Sverrisson—dwells on human matters such as addiction and damaging thought patterns, both of which can consume so much energy, it can be impossible to live a productive life. Over nine tracks and 36 minutes, this duo creates black metal that might as well be about the natural chaos that’s exploding in their homeland, but knowing that chaos and punishment is more personal makes this an even scarier record to absorb. These are forces one can control over time, but it’s just as easy to succumb to defeat as it is to crawl out of hell.

“Jarteikn” starts with aggression and melody coexisting, the shrieks scorching as the playing pours like the lava bursting from the volcano in Grindavík. Throaty howls land heavy blows as the intensity spikes, jarring and crushing before fading. “Fláráð Fræði” brings darkened guitars, and then the thrashing gets under way, the vocals sending waves of terror, wrenching and devastating. The fiery assault doubles as deep growls send seismic punishment, gutting and lurching to a finish. “Fangelsaður í Tilvist að Eilífu” begins with symphonic bombast, and then the playing rips through the center, spilling guts all over the place. The growls bellow through the Earth’s crust, the majestic rage spreading and vibrating, empirical sounds amplifying the metallic glory. “Þögnin Ytra, Kyrrðin Innra” is a blinding assault, the growls engorging as the slaughter gets into full force. Scorching howls and a galloping pace make your blood rush harder, zapping through the air, smashing your senses to bits. The tempo hits a melodic gust, bringing newfound intensity that slowly fades into flames.

“Guðlegt Réttlæti” signals doom with horns blowing, igniting as the growls wrench, and the blackness enshrouds everything. Shrieks destroy as the leads work up a bloody lather, the drums crushing into oblivion. “Sindur” blasts in with regal synth, guitars spiraling, and the gnarly vocals laying waste. There’s a combination of torment and atmosphere, a devious and mangling approach that leaves everything buried in ash. “Ildi Óhreins Anda” opens with thunder, and then the tempo chugs, washing into murkier terrain that reminds of a thick, early-morning fog. The strangeness permeates as the drums blast through, chaos spills fire anew, and the tornadic pace drills deep into the ground. “Traðkandi Blómin í Eigin Hjartagarði” is a battering ram, the growls digging under fingernails, the pace speeding up and colliding with industrial noise. There is a hardcore-style drubbing that leaves bruising, the vocals reverberating, decimating to the end. Closer “Minning um Morðingja” brings classic black metal riffs, the playing leveling worlds, melodies providing slight relief from the ample burning. The power blazes and makes breathing impossible, blasting into orchestral storms, ending quivering in a pool of blood.

While so much of the black metal world Helfró create feels like it centers on nature, what we hear on “Tálgröf” is more volcanic from an introspective standpoint. Whether or not you understand their language, you can feel the force in the music, the struggle playing out over the rampaging nine tracks that dig right into your brain. These are struggles we all can understand, many of us face, and this record bleeds these emotions in a manner that can set fire to chaos within.

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/HelfroIce/

To buy the album (North America), go here: https://shopusa.season-of-mist.com/band/helfro

Or here (International): https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/helfro-helfro

For more on the label, go here: https://www.season-of-mist.com/