Fæge is a DSBM band that, despite its name, title, or cover suggesting otherwise, does not come from Reykjavik but from the heart of the Netherlands—Utrecht, to be precise. What you’re reading isn’t Icelandic either, but Old English (Anglo-Saxon). Fæge means something like “doomed” or “doomed to die,” while Hreóƿa translates to something akin to “being in mourning.”
With three tracks and a total runtime of 35 minutes, I could interpret this as an album. And that’s how it’s categorized on the Metal Encyclopedia. However, there’s no further information available—even on Spotify, I couldn’t find anything more.
What immediately stands out is the solid production of this release—well-mixed layers of atmospheric guitar work, clear drumming, and remarkably strong vocals make it an impressive piece. A piece that, for now, is only available via Bandcamp and not in a physical format.
The opener “Forsƿīþene”—most likely meaning Devastated, as this is a DSBM band after all—immediately reveals the direction Fæge aims to take us: heavy, atmospheric Black Metal, pierced by desperate vocals searching for redemption.
With Blōdigum Sƿeord (With a Bloodied Sword), the tempo picks up slightly. What stands out are the beautifully layered guitar parts and the varied drumming. A very strong track. In the middle, we also transition to a quieter acoustic section, which somewhat divides the track into two parts.
The 14-minute closing track Langum Dæge (Long Days) is a song that, despite its length, never becomes boring. I also have the feeling that the lyrics are written in Anglo-Saxon as well.
With this Fæge, we’ve actually found a small gem in the vast forest of releases that truly deserves to be released physically.
85/100
Fæge:
Bandcamp