Mistur, from the Sogndal county - Norway, was founded by André Raunehaug, Espen Bakketeig and Odne in 2003. The name Mistur is taken from the Icelandic language and it means 'mist'. Halfway 2005 their first demo entitled "Skoddefjellet" was released as a self financed demo.

 

"Skoddefjellet" contains four tracks within 17 minutes and what you'll get is great folk-inspired black metal with programmed drums. The band is still in search for a real drummer of flesh and blood so for now the programmed drums can be seen as a temporary solution. Still these drums sound not really programmed at all on this demo and that's a good thing because this kind of folkloric black metal definately needs real drums.

The demo starts with an semi-acoustic intro which reminded me a bit to old Old Mans Child. After this intro the first song entitled "Heimferdi" blows out of my speakers. As said, the music is folk inspired black metal and quite often the music reminds me to Windir and even more to Ulcus. Both these bands also come from the Sogndal county so it seems Sogndal is a good region for this kind of black metal. Still Mistur manages to partly create an own sound and the keyboards are mainly responsable for this. In here they create a mystical, dreamlike folkloric atmosphere and my thoughts wonder off to misty fjords and green steep mountainslopes . The guitars play melodic lines which remember to Windir a lot. But it fits the music really good so I don't see this as a disturbing fact. Also "Skoddefjellet" reminds me to Windir and Ulcus because of the melodic guitarlines. Also during this song my thoughts wonder off to misty fjords with alongside green steep mountainslopes, just as depicted on the backcover of this demo-cd. The vocals are done both in a screaming way, comparable to Valfar (Windir) and as clean vocals. The demo ends with "Natt ved kyndilstjern" which is an outro based upon a old folktune and it is a great way to end a great demo.

 

Mistur really managed to surprise me with this great demo-cd and anyone into folk-orientated black metal like Windir and Ulcus definately should purchase this demo. Interested ones can check www.raunehaug.net/mistur where one free download is available. It is possible to buy the demo through André Raunehaug himself; just send a mail to andre@raunehaug.net. For me personally "Skoddefjellet" is one of thé best demos from the year 2005!