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Rimthurs' Svartnar is what I've come to think of when I hear the term "Swedish" Black Metal; plenty of extremely fast drums, picked guitar riffs and evil, rasping vocals. I wouldn't call this raw, as there is quite a bit of melody, but you aren't going to hear it in the hotel elevator all the same. Svartnar isn't solely about speed as Rimthurs dials the tempo back to mid-paced and even "doom" on occasion. This really enhances the atmosphere of evil, in my ears. It also shows the band (one guy, Ymer, actually, plus a session bassist) can actually play and not just bang away at the instruments in a semi-musical fashion. The occasional clean chanting and the violins, which lend an Eastern European feel, are unique touches.

Other than the aforementioned departures from the norm, there is nothing frightfully original on Svartnar, so don't expect to be blown away. Rimthurs' debut full-length is, however, a solid Black Metal album and a good start to a career.