UMUR "VioLution" is the 3rd full-lengh studio album by Norwegian black/death metal act V:28. The album was released through Vendlus Records in September 2007. It´s the successor to "SoulSaviour" from 2005 and features the same lineup as the predecessor: Kristoffer Oustad (guitars, programming), Eddie Risdal (rhythm guitars, vocals), and Atle Johansen (bass).

Stylistically the band continues the industrial tinged black/death metal style of the first two albums. They´ve grown as composers though and "VioLution" is generally more varied and more adventurous than the preceding releases. The atmosphere is pitch black and the lyrics laden with post-war/apocalyptic nightmare visions. The tracks are predominantly slow-to mid-paced, but there are faster parts featured on the album too. In addition to guitars and bass, the music features programmed drums and atmospheric synth effects/samples. The vocals are mostly raspy black metal style vocals, but there are clean vocals on "The Absolute", performed by Ulver´s Kristoffer Rygg. The clean vocals add more of a melancholic/depressive atmosphere to the music than a sense of "light at the end of the tunnel" (which clean vocals sometime add to extreme music). So this is overall very bleak music.

The material is well performed and the album is well produced too, and the band succeed in bringing an atmosphere of impending doom to the listener. There is great conviction behind the delivery and the programmed drums work well within the band´s sound. So upon conclusion "VioLution" is a high quality release and a 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "SoulSaviour" is the 2nd full-length studio album by Norwegian black metal act V:28. The album was released through Vendlus Records in May 2005.

V:28 is a pretty original sounding black metal act with war themed lyrics and imagery, a prominent use of atmospheric keyboards and programmed drums. The pace of their music is predomiantly slow- to midpaced. Their grim guitar playing style puts them firmly in the black metal camp, (although there are more angular rhythmic riffing in the music too) as well as the raspy vocals do. The atmosphere on "SoulSaviour" is bleak and laden with despair. I imagine the feeling after climbing out of a post nuclear war shelter, just to discover that the world you used to know is now a shattered and and desolate place. Because of the keyboards the music occasionally features an epic (or maybe majestic/monumental/stoic are better words for it) atmosphere too. No matter how I twist and turn it, "SoulSaviour" is just an album that reeks hopelessness and despair.

The short voice sample intro "The Brightest Light" (composed for V:28 by Lina Baby Doll of industrial act Deutsch Nepal) takes us down the road of bleakness right away, featuring as it does, voice samples from first nuclear bomb testing. The keyboard theme that closes the intro is used again in "Unleash the Energy" (played on guitars), which "The Brightest Light" seques directly into. An extremely effectful way of opening the album. The material is pretty consistent in quality and style for the duration of the 40:25 minutes long album. It´s not that varied but to my ears "SoulSaviour" is still a greatly entertaining album.

The band are generally well playing and succeed well in tastefully incorporating synths/keyboards to their sound. The programmed drums on the album, are not there for the lack of a human drummer, but rather as a consequence of a conscious choice by the band. That´s audible as the programmed drums fit right in with the bleak atmosphere and the overall concept of the album. Packed in a clear and powerful sound production "SoulSaviour" is also a very well sounding album and overall a 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating isn´t all wrong.

UMUR "NonAnthropogenic" is the debut full-length studio album by Norwegian black metal act V:28. The album was released through Vendlus Records in October 2003. The band are a duo on this album consisting of Kristoffer Oustad (Guitars, Programming) and Eddie Risdal (Guitars (rhythm), Vocals, Bass).

The band play a mid-paced/slow and atmospheric type black metal. The drums are programmed but it´s not too obvious and not really an issue either (overall the sound production is professional and well sounding). The riffing style sometimes remind me of Bolt Thrower. A reference that is further strengthened by the band´s war themed lyrics and imagery. A theme they would explore even further on subsequent releases. However on "NonAnthropogenic" the war theme is only one of the lyrical themes the band explore. While the tracks are slightly one-dimensional and the song structures a bit formulaic, the band still succeed in incorporating enough variation in the music to keep the album entertaining throughout. I Especially enjoy the majestic moments with keyboards that occur now and again. The vocals are black metal type snarling vocals. A bit one-dimensional but they suit the music well. In regards to that it should be noted that Grutle Kjellson (Enslaved) delivers lead vocals on "Purity" and backing vocals on "Dead Shining Star".

While "NonAnthropogenic" isn´t a flawless release to my ears, it´s still a strong album by V:28, that showcases an act featuring a distinct sound with potential. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.