ᛉᛦ – Algir; eller Algir i Merkstave is a different beast than some of the previous work I've explored from TxRxPx. The two tracks that make up the album are side long slabs of focused, minimalist sound, absent of Ekelund's tortured vocals.  Track one or "ᛉ" begins the ritual. Blackened ambient soundscapes replete with reverberated bells and chimes, slicing and clanging tool sounds, and dense atmospherics worm their way through the nineteen minute piece. The imagery of a horde of cloaked figures gathering at night fills my mind. An eerie dread lay upon the land where dark forces are at play. Something sinister is amiss.

If side A is the calling then Track two"ᛦ" signals the ritual is underway. Sparse percussive beats, faint buzzing, the sounds of leaves breaking and rustling, and owls in the distance occupy the first part of this long piece. A bout of silence breaks up the proceedings. Then things slowly build again, the ringing of a bell and gong, slow plodding beats, some machinery buzzing in the distance. A dense vaporous mass engulfs the backdrop. The portal has opened and the beast has materialized. Really horror show dynamics going on this one from start to finish. This whole album could easily be an alternate soundtrack to Midsommar or The Lighthouse.

A really strong release through and through that really plays on your imagination if let it truly sink in and take hold. Today I took a long walk in the woods intently listening to this. The forest looked a little scarier than usual, yet I plan to make that journey again and again.