The Death EP

From gamle.musikkavisen.no:

Akkurat da jeg hadde drapert min svarte kappe over corpus rex og sminket meg svart rundt øya, overrasket denne demoen meg stort. Jeg regnet med at jeg hadde deprimerende gotisk rock i vente her, men i stedet varter Weh opp med melankolsk kassegitarpop a'la Nick Cave.

Når jeg vel har kommet meg over sjokket, innser jeg ganske kjapt at dette faktisk er veldig bra. Enkelt og melankolsk, men veldig bra. Favoritten er åpningslåta "Deadline", men de andre fire spora er også gode.

Vi lar denne demoen stå som et bevis på hvor mye man faktisk kan få til med noen kassegitargrep, middels sangstemme og et gryende låtskrivertalent.

Anbefaling: Bestill fra necrophilosophy@hotmail.com NÅ!!!

Tekst - Thomas Hansen


From Sweden Rock Magazine #10:

Erik E heter mannen bakom denna något annorlunda demo. Innehållandes fem spår av likartad karaktär, med endast en akustisk gitarr, tamburin och med sina mörka texter, skapar han lite av en "Death Metal goes unplugged"-känsla. "Lady Death" håller högst kvalité, både ljudmässigt och rent musikaliskt. Här liksom i de övriga spåren ligger styrkan främst i Eriks utmärkta röst, som tillsammans med den ensamma akustiska gitarren, bildar en stark kontrast til onda, gurglande bakgrundspåläggen. Småkul i demoform, men intresset skulle knappast hålla genom en hel skiva.
-Christian Strandell

All The Sinners Are Sleeping Now

From Scream Magazine #86:

Det er mulig Kringen sitter med mer info enn meg om WEH. Jeg vet ingenting om hvor de er fra eller hvem de er selv om jeg har bokstavkombinasjonen assosiert til musikk et sted langt bak i hodet. Demoen vi har heter i hvert fall "All The Sinners Are Sleeping Now" og inneholder sju låter. Låtene er melodiøse, melankolske og gode, og fremføres av en behagelig mannsstemme som helt opplagt forstår seg på velbehagelig og stemningsfull sang. Låtene fremføres ellers på akustisk gitar og avslepen bass. WEH låter rett og slett vakkert og er som hvile for øre og sjel. Ikke akkurat metal, men det gjør ingenting. Jeg gidder ikke engang lete etter argumenter for eller mot om en demo som dette bør omtales i Scream. Jeg bare slår fast at jeg gjør det, og at jeg liker platen. (AJB)

Hoof & Horn

From Scream Magazine #103:

Dette er stort sett akustisk gitar og en naken mannsstemme. Noe bass og keyboards er også brukt. Jeg vet ikke et døyt om WEH mer enn at de er fra Halden/Sarpsborg-distriktet, har laget noen demoer og deltatt på en tributeplate til Windir. Denne demoen er tatt opp i et hjemmestudio og har et veldig bra lydbilde. Låtene er litt dystre, men skikkelig nydelige saker. Det låter stort av dette tresporsproduktet. Selv har jeg utrolig sans for denne demoen. Her burde plateselskapene våkne og gjøre jobben sin. (Anders Oddsberg)


From www.lunar-hypnosis.com:

I first discovered Weh, the solo dark acoustic/neo folk project of Erik E., back in 2004 when his cover of Windir’s ‘Likbør’ appeared on the ‘Valfar, ein Windir’ anthology. To say I loved his cover would be but an understatement as I personally thought it was absolutely beautiful and amazing to hear a black metal song turned into an acoustic piece. Well, as it turns out Weh has been active since 2002, and by the end of 2006 Erik had already released his fifth demo titled ‘North.’ ‘Hoof & Horn’ was released a year earlier and according to Erik these three songs were the closest sounding to what he originally set out to do with Weh.

I really love this type of music because it’s exactly the type of music I’d like to create if I had musical talent. But, that’s actually the least of important reasons why I like this music. Erik’s music while consisting of just one twelve string acoustic guitar, his voice, and light backing synthesizers is beyond gorgeous in its deliver. His music is soft, delicate, emotional acoustic ballads, with excellent vocals, thoughtful lyrics, and stunning guitar work. The music generally carries a dark melancholic feeling, which you can sense so strongly through Erik’s voice and his lyrics. When I listen to this music it makes me remember the first time I heard Current 93 or Sol Invictus, and the emotions I felt, and the compulsive feeling to continually play the songs over and over again even though they made me feel sad. While each of these three songs have their own unique qualities I really feel the ending song ‘Ruin’ is one of Erik’s best songs to date.

Assuming you’re into any sort of dark acoustic or neo folk styled music I utterly urge you to check out this stunning solo artist known as Weh. Everything he’s released is golden and well worth hearing. Do so here: http://www.weh.erikevju.com

January 26, 2007
By JJM
9 of 10


From www.shadowlands-mag.de:

Weh the one man project of Eric Evju is probably a notion to those who have already heard his touchy version of Windirs ”Likbør” from the album Valfar, ein Windir”.
Anyhow his release ”Hoof & Horn” still uses the same type of music: Modern skaldic chant combined with dreamy and melancholic acoustic guitar melodies. ”Heathen Ground” is a very melancholic song that broaches the issue (as the title reveals) of pagan mythologies. Provided with a couple of effects here and there is it a dreamful song to listen. ”The Endlessness” pretty much goes the same style even though the lyrical part might be about a different topic.
My ultimate song from ” Hoof & Horn” is ”Ruin”. It’s last track. I guess I never heard such a ability for wonderful and harmonic melodies like in here. Eric definitely knows how to create a mournful atmosphere which automatically forces tears out of your eyes.
For those who love such kind of quiet acoustic guitar music which waives the experiment of any more effects is Weh a definite must have!
I’m looking forward to what we will get to hear next.

Siglind

http://www.weh.erikevju.com

Rating: 8
addition: 8 of 10 possible points

North

From www.lunar-hypnosis.com:

Released late last year is Weh’s most recent offering ‘North.’ North continues on in the same vein as ‘Hoof & Horn’ although I feel with North Erik has composed four of his very best songs to date.

Things kick off very beautifully with ‘And the Bells are Ringing Doom,’ which I feel is not only Erik’s best song so far, but also his most sorrowful, and I wouldn’t hesitate to say this is one of the best dark folk songs ever composed. Basically everything about this song is perfect; the guitar work is stunning, the keyboards are dark and atmospheric, the singing is beyond excellent, and the lyrics are fantastic and catchy as well. I really truly have never heard such a wonderful song before, and even though it is very sad sounding it is so good and I just simply can’t stop playing it. ‘North’ and ‘Darkness Part Two’ are up next and while they are again great songs they somehow don’t seem to touch me as much as the opening song. North is a rather straightforward slow acoustic ballad, while Darkness Part Two is a bit more upbeat and for some reason or another it reminds me of the German dark folk band Werkraum, though I couldn’t tell you exactly why. This release closes out however with another stunning song called ‘The Men Of Gallow Proud,’ which has a very nice riff in the song that runs throughout most of the song and a light synth melody in the background. In any case another one of Weh’s finest songs so far.

Up to now Erik has published all of his songs online for free download and since this EP is way above average I would strongly suggest checking it out if you have any interest in beautiful dark melancholic folk music.


April 12, 2007
By JJM
10 of 10