Country of origin:United Kingdom
Location:Southampton, England
Status:Active

Formed in:2017
Genre:Epic Black Metal
Lyrical themes:Tolkien
Current label:Northern Silence Productions
Years active:2017-present

DISCOGRAPHY

Of Darkened Halls EP 2017
Maedhros Single 2018
The Sons of Fëanor Full-length 2018
Of Dying Lights Full-length 2019
Nordland Single 2019
From Beneath the Fells Full-length 2019
Evenstar Full-length 2020

current line up

Tom O'Dell Everything (2017-present)
See also: Battle Born, Deavhronun, Gimli, Son of Glóin, ex-P.I.N.K Lüng

reviews

An "epic" masterpiece! - 100%
Spider_X, September 19th, 2018
Written based on this version: 2018, Digital, Independent (Bandcamp)
The Sons of Fëanor is so different, so unique, and extremely atmospheric as hell. So much swaying of symphonic sounds carry on throughout the album, making it to be very captivating; "Celegorm" and "Caranthir" in particular. With the same sense of Hermóðr's 'atmosphere and passion', this is some extremely, very high-quality black metal. This album will pull at your heartstrings, intrinsically! In all honesty, out of nowhere Dwarrowdelf has become my second favorite band (next to any projects brought forth by Rafn, i.e Hermóðr). Dwarrowdelf is truly that good, and is a force to be reckoned with. Original in voice and sound, in every single way imaginable! I am that in love with Dwarrowdelf's style! Beautiful... just unbelievably beautiful. This album is just so pleasant to listen to.

"Amrod" sets the mood for the entire album, with its slow-tempo pace, kind of giving off a grim and doomy feel. Very simplistic keyboards and drumming starts, where you can start to 'feel' the atmosphere and the magic within the album. Slow-paced, hard guitar riffs enter shortly afterwords. And, then Tom O'Dell starts singing in a style of black metal all his own. A style that I don't think I have ever heard before (I may have, but I can't recollect at the moment). Black metal singing that make no mistake, you can understand pretty much almost every word sung. I was definitely taken aback by this; but at the same time enjoyed it immensely. I mean, it's nice to not have to look at lyrics, and absorb all of what's being said, and understand. In doing it this way, helps in making the atmosphere of this album perfectly unique. And, then the clean 'chant-like' singing is just so smooth and intensely passionate, harboring a deep tone to it. Velvet waves of sounds towards the end of the song are like that of a symphony, awe-inspiring and beautiful.

"Curufin" is such a stirring song, that has a strong medieval sound to it. I love it how it sounds like 'horns' are being played at the beginning, and ritualistic style drumming that is present throughout. The black metal vocals here, have a strained and forced sound, that is not to be wavered; bringing forth tremendous strength. A nice, soft wave of orchestration lifts into the atmosphere, so lovely. Fast drumming disrupts that "soft wave" just slightly, for a very few moments... Then, a chorus-like chant breaks up the music completely, but only momentarily before the orchestral waves push back through, blending in so velvety... Then, Tom O'Dell's vocals, still strained and forced enters back within the atmosphere very smoothly until the end. While this is only the second track of the album, I feel it to be, that in my honest opinion, this is the (core) of the album; just because of how powerful it really is.

Extremely beautiful 'piano' sounds begins "Celegorm", emotionally touching. There is so much depth, weight and power to it. And, then guitar riffs make a strong entrance through. Blending in with both comes in a much more different sound of the 'piano', adding to it an intense, yet velvety touch. Then, suddenly that strong depth of Tom's black metal vocals push through, bringing in shortly after a very whimsical, and soft-sounding singing voice. So much blending in of everything, and then a very climactic "chorus" piece that goes up in volume with each note pitching higher and higher, until what comes to be... One of the absolute most heartfelt pieces of music that I cannot believe that I am hearing. This part that starts at (05:24-06:59) could actually pass itself off as a late 1700s classical piece, like from around Beethoven's time! I am being completely serious here. No matter how I try and describe this one section of music in this song, I will never do it enough justice. There's just no way that I can. And, then it ends just as beautiful as it began. This is definitely one of the most beautiful black metal songs, or of any musical genre for that matter, that honestly I've ever heard. This song moves you in such a way, that it makes you feel like you have "butterflies" in your stomach. Not for a feeling of nervousness, but really just more so, because it's honestly just that stunning. This song is without a doubt my most favorite off of the entire album; I truly am moved to the point of tears by this masterpiece!

Soft 'violin' sounds begins "Caranthir", and already I'm in tears. There's an intense, chilling tone present. Very reminiscent of Hermóðr, not just in length (as this is the longest track on the album), but due to the emotional state it puts you in, during listening. In me saying this, it has nothing to do with 'sounding' like Hermóðr, as "Caranthir" highly maintains its originality. There's a certain part of the song that starts at (01:10-01:44) that radiates a remembrance of "IV (Interment)", a song by Fen, from their Winter. album, released last year. With similar guitar riffs, it is assuredly uncanny how I am reminded of that song. This will happen again around (06:57-07:32). Oddly enough, this is my favorite track, off of Winter. Tom's black metal vocals pierce through, before intense fast-paced drumming surfaces, mixed with same-styled guitar riffs. Then, his remarkable and passionate, velvety smooth vocals shine through, intertwining well with 'flute' type sounds. Honestly breathtaking! This song, (as well as I had mentioned earlier about "Amrod"), gives off that "medieval" sound excessively... And it's just beautiful; intensely chilling in fact. When listening to The Sons of Fëanor as a whole, when it reaches track 4 (this song), it's one I repeat time and again before being able to move on to the next. This one song will absolutely take your breath away! I truly have a hard time letting go of it, once it's over.

This is one of those albums that I truly wish that I could write about every single song that's on it. All that I've written thus far, preceding this sentence, feels like it just isn't enough. I swear, I could keep on talking about The Sons of Fëanor; there's just so much in it. You know, even when the music is done, it still stays with you, actually more 'inside' of you - a feeling that won't leave you for quite a long while. A very lasting effect this album gives you. This is definitely "epic" black metal. And, the more that I listen to this, the more it honestly has become one of my most favorite black metal albums, of all-time.

Tolkien metal is not done growing - 95%
TWadams39, October 5th, 2020
Written based on this version: 2020, CD, Northern Silence Productions (Digipak, Limited edition)
Chances are, if you have come this far, you are not new to Tolkien inspired metal. Whether this is true or not, this record demands a listen.

Dwarrowdelf's "Evenstar" pushes into new territory yet unexplored on previous releases, adding more complexity to the solo act's established atmospheric black metal style. Fans will still find the dungeon synth flavors of previous releases at times, but ultimately this album moves in a more organic direction, reaching into various metal domains that will appeal to those who enjoy power metal as well as black metal.

The black metal flavor of the record has moments that recall acts such as Agalloch or Elderwind, yet the guitar performance would be at home in any number of Finnish or Swedish melodic death metal acts. And through all this, there is a grand epicness, an energy that keeps the sometimes drony or slow atmospheric black metal genre from getting to lethargic. There are moments that for me were even reminiscent of Blind Guardian.

The guitars are melodic, providing low tuned riffing, spacial tremolos, and classic leads, with the bass filling the space beneath them. The percussion ranges from mid and low tempo rhythms to full scale blast beats. The keyboards hover eerily over the top, and the vocals range from harsh black metal style vocals, to baritone-range cleans, often harmonized. Undómiel seems an obvious favorite track for its catchiness, but those who prefer grimmer sounding tracks will find plenty of other suitable offerings.

Ultimately, this albums best quality is its dynamic. Listen to the record from start to finish and enjoy the shifting emotional ride, and if you already are a fan and collector of this genre of metal, I believe you will feel compelled to add this one to your shelf.