Review Summary: Gorgeous soundscapes of ethereal horizons.
Blut Aus Nord: perhaps one of the most significant names in the avant-garde metal scene. It is astonishing that, 30 years after their debut album, the band’s enigmatic mastermind, Vindsval, continues to release more and more great albums. Two years after the release of
Disharmonium - Nahab, the second installment in the
Disharmonium trilogy, which delves into the abyssal mysteries of Lovecraftian lore, many might have expected the final chapter of the trilogy upon hearing news of a new album. However, when the opening track, “Shadows Breathe First”, dropped as a single on September 5th, I immediately sensed a return to the cosmic black metal style of their 2019 masterpiece,
Hallucinogen. After all my intuition proved correct, as
Ethereal Horizons once again showcases the band’s melodic side.
Ethereal Horizons inevitably evokes comparisons to
Hallucinogen, as the two albums are stylistically kindred spirits - almost like twin siblings. Both are rich in melodic riffs, blending harsh black metal vocals with ethereal choruses and clean singing, while soft, slightly psychedelic synthesizer melodies weave through the background. The entire sound is drenched in reverb, enveloping every element of the music. The result is unmistakably Blut Aus Nord (Vindsval’s signature sound is absolutely unique and instantly recognizable) yet it manifests in a form that is surprisingly accessible. While the album retains the mysticism often found in black metal (reinforced by occasional icy, dissonant riffs), there is something simultaneously honey-sweet and inviting about this iteration of Blut Aus Nord’s style.
This duality permeates
Ethereal Horizons, with every track built on stark contrasts. A perfect example is the first two minutes of “The Ordeal”, where styles shift organically and seamlessly: a fast-paced, atmospheric black metal opening suddenly gives way to a soft, heavily psychedelic passage (featuring gorgeous clean vocals - quite enchanting!), which then subtly transitions into a mid-tempo, dissonant, otherworldly section radiating a truly sinister atmosphere. The entire album can be seen as a constant metamorphosis: blending elevation, softness, harshness, and an otherworldly ambiance, all infused with a kind of
magic. Pinpointing the exact source of this magic is difficult. It could stem from Vindsval’s unique style, the contrasts within the music (e.g. metal vs. ambient), or even the exceptional studio work, which deserves endless praise. The pristine, dynamic, and balanced production is something more modern metal bands should aspire to.
Ethereal Horizons has depth, atmosphere, and an incredibly smooth flow… its 52-minute runtime feels like it flies by in an instant.
Ethereal Horizons is the fruit of masterful craftsmanship, a fantastic album that I would even recommend to black metal beginners. While it places greater emphasis on mid-tempo sections compared to
Hallucinogen, its atmosphere remains just as extraordinary. Blut Aus Nord has not lost its magic, and it is wonderful to hear their more melodic side again. This album is a stunning achievement, proving once more that Blut Aus Nord remains quite unmatched in their genre.
