I have to admit, I was entirely unaware of the fact that MÖRK GRYNING were not only active again (both “masterminds” Goth Gorgon and Draakh Kimera are back with the band) but also that they had new material right until this album was announced: The dreaded year 2020 unfortunately brought with it quite a few other worries, and staying seamlessly up to date with band activities and releases wasn’t exactly high up in the list of priorities during that time. Fasornas Tid is already the second album after their return (the Swedes had previously completed five studio albums between 1993 and 2005), not counting the very short live album from their first (or at least one of their first) gigs after the reunion. Back then as well as now, MÖRK GRYNING were/are one of the few black metal bands for whom I could generally forgive the use of keyboards and clear vocals, because then as now they managed to dose them in a way that didn't result in cheesiness and kitsch.

Of course, in preparation of the review I first caught up with the 2020 predecessor Hinsides Vrede and was admittedly quite disappointed: the album lacked the “bite” of the good old days, seemed a little too smooth, tame, and somehow at the same time too melodic but lacking in really remarkable melodies. Fortunately, although Fasornas Tid still contains an abundance of melodies and keyboards while the production is still more polished than before the hiatus, the familiar style from the band's early years dominates again.
The album begins rather cautiously with an acoustic intro and the melodic The Seer, characterized by “real” (but, despite my general dislike of clean vocals, admittedly quite good) singing, but following that “slow-ish start”, MÖRK GRYNING unpack the speed and brutality we're used to from the old days from Tornet onwards: only the 2-minute acoustic interlude Barren Paths servers as a short break from the intensity.
Relentlessly driven by Goth Gorgon's bass and the ferocious drumming of C-G (who has also rejoined the band), all tracks remain under the five-minute mark. It's not just the varied and tremolo-heavy guitar work that provides plenty of variety despite the short-ish runtime: Of course, main vocalist Draakh Kimera with his trademark bloodcurdling shrieking vocals leaves his mark on the songs, but in a rather unusual fashion, all the other band members except for drummer C-G contribute to the (backing) vocals as well. And as if that wasn't enough, C from fellow Stockholm outfit and genre mates Avslut does also lend his voice to a couple of songs (Tornet and the symphonic An Ancient Ancestor Of The Autumn Moon).
Due to the consistently high quality, it's not easy to single out individual tracks. But if I have to, you can’t miss with Savage Messiah as one of the (somewhat) slower, powerful numbers and The Serpent's Kiss with its very successful overarching melodic arc. And, of course, Age Of Fire, the crowning finale in the truest sense of the word: the longest track on the album, but one that you would have liked to have been longer nonetheless. With its thrilling groove at high speed and dense, atmospheric sound, the track doesn't need to shy away from comparison with other Swedish genre greats.

Farsonas Tid may not be on the exact same high level as their own classic Tusen År Har Gått..., but it’s pretty close and most importantly, it is much stronger than its direct predecessor. An all-round fantastic album. If they can keep this quality up, I definitely want to see what MÖRK GRYNING have in store for future releases.