From Iceland — Wormlust: Seven Paths

Published June 11, 2010

Everybody and their mother are talking about atmospheric black metal these days. Sure enough, there’s a tidal wave of bands trying to get their piece of the pie, by throwing in some ambient keyboard noises and dragging their otherwise uneventful songs out.
WORMLUST is Hafsteinn Lyngdal’s latest outburst within the realm of extreme music. It’s is also a project he seems to be most involved in and content with these days. And it shows on Seven Paths. Lyngdal effortlessly knits together a soundscape, a journey if you will, that has an engaging beginning, and a natural and fulfilling conclusion. Its haunting and atmospheric qualities jump at you at first and hook in you but repeated listens will reveal successful layering that makes this such a powerful piece.
Seven Paths is remarkably cohesive considering its progressive nature. Presenting it as one track connected by fluent transitions was a wise decision indeed. Sporadic it’s not.