Review Summary: A Black Metal album that blends modern core elements with the more traditional, symphonic blackened roots, culminating in a mystifyingly dark and versatile effort
Release Year: 2017
Genre: Symphonic Black Metal
Label: Season of Mist
Location: Netherlands
When us fanatics hear the words “black metal” mentioned, we often like to think of those artists from back in the day who helped to shape the underground genre into what it is known for today. Ranging from the controversial themes and lyrics, to the presumably anti-religious practices and dark, depressing atmosphere associated with its presence, the black metal genre has manifested itself throughout our world in many ways within the last three decades. Aside from these characteristics, we’ve had numerous notable musicians take the stage. This includes the likes of Varg Vikernes, Gorgoroth, Quorthon and Cradle of Filth, many of whom aided in building the foundations of the genre with their respective talents.
Hailing from the almighty Land of Neder, Carach Angren are making a name for themselves within the underground music community through their continuation of the black metal formula that has made countless other artists popular because of it. Since the start of their successful career in the mid-2000s, these symphonic masterminds implemented several intriguing twists into the common black metal formula. For instance, much of their music contains dynamic elements of symphonic and melodic heavy metal, which adds to the overall ambiance of their work. In addition, judging from their more recent releases, this band has begun to include a wider variety of elements from other subgenres of metal (mainly those associated with the core community).
In this album, one will find nearly everything but the kitchen sink. There are several breakdowns throughout the new release…along with symphonic sections, ominous audio clips, and all of the other worthwhile things you’d find in a Carach Angren release. This album clocks in at just over 40 minutes and is comprised of nine tracks (although some versions contain an orchestral bonus track). The central themes that revolve around the offering’s concept include those related to piracy, nobility, death and nature.
The album starts off with an opening track that serves as a build up of the atmosphere leading into the first real song. Then, the fun commences. The guitar riffs found in ‘Charlie’, the album’s second track, are mostly distorted, fast-paced licks, with galloping and some tremolo picking. Blast beat drumming and vocals of both the clean and unclean variety alike accompany the guitars. At some point, the harsh screams are blended in with some Gregorian chanting and high-pitched opera singing. However, that track, along with most others in this release, is very fast and brutal, yet melodic at the same time. There are also instances in which the band goes for a more balladic style even. For example, the album’s middle track (titled ‘Song for the Dead’) consists of an abundance of the epically brilliant melodic storytelling these guys are known for.
Personally, the best track on this album, titled ‘Blood Queen’, is really epic considering the thematic and musical transitions in tempo and structure. The entire song is like a rollercoaster ride through a haunted house, with its creepy aesthetics and the musical abilities of the artists who pull you into the listening experience with their inclusion of mixed instrumentals and wild storytelling. This description goes for many of the album’s other tracks, which succeed in doing just that.
This newest offering from Carach Angren is one that is devoid of any noteworthy faults or shortcomings. Every single track offers an original story or concept to be told to the listeners…and the whole thing finishes of with a bang. The energy is there, along with the atmosphere, storytelling, themes, instrumentals and vocals, as well as everything else you’d find in one of their works. These musicians have once again shown, through continued innovation and creativity, that the black metal genre is one that is alive and well. So long as these guys are kicking it, in addition to others of the like such as Wolves in the Throne Room and Abigail Williams, the spirit of the blackened shall not die out anytime soon.
Favourite Track(s): Blood Queen, Charles Francis Coghlan
