Album Rating: 5.0

Yeah Chasmal Fire is unreal

there really is a lot i can say about this album so imma try and condense it in a few paragraphs as a helpful retrospective:

i think i'm still baffled at the acclaim and 'fame' cus i'm still just a massive dork ahaha, i joined this site when i was like 17 and my enthusiasm for music was unrivaled by anything else so i naturally wanted to connect with people who felt the same. but i knew i had to create music - it was my natural method of talking about my emotions where words failed. it was good enough for me that even a small portion of people heard my voice through music as traditional communication didn't really work for me.

15 years later and here's the result. through various mental health crisises my mindset at the time was essentially two choices - die or finish trisagion. i'm proud to say i chose the latter choice and it represents this victory for me over everything that was trying to work against me. here we are, 4 years after release and it thrills me that not only people care about it but become emotionally invested in what was a harrowing journey. i owe all of you guys and i want this to stand as proof we can overcome everything that wants us to suffer.

i think about how a lot of black metal hyperfocuses on dark, malicious thoughts but rarely gives it the contrast it needs to breathe - i used my trauma as a means to communicate that we can prevail over it. there is hope. we don't have to shy away from our anxieties and fears, we can be afraid but stand up and face them.

it took a while but this album really was the way i was able to close that chapter of my life and start afresh mentally. i no longer feel weighed down by events in my past, they're a part of my story. if nothing else i want this album to represent how horrible that can be for anyone, no attempts to disguise or downplay the trauma and revealling it in all its horror, but still standing up to face it.

Album Rating: 4.0

Glad you chose the latter

oh obviously me too - it's kind of surreal to think i was in such an intense and dark state of mind but it explains the general sound and mood of this record. my first album almost sounded like i was capitulating to my depression but this one was furious at everything external and internal that was making me feel that way.

the cover was chosen on the grounds of it being a metaphor for what depression and suicidality can leave behind - a smoldering ruin of something that used to be beautiful. but i'm now rebuilding and it's deeply rewarding to look back.

something that scares me a bit is that my poor mental health has always been my musical muse and now that i'm in a much better place i'm having to draw from other sources so whether people will enjoy what i make next is anyone's guess. that said i'm not sure i really care about that as much as i used to - i just want to make music for the sake of it. there's a beauty in something existing for no other reason than just wanting it to.

Album Rating: 5.0

Glad you chose the latter (2)

This album certainly sounds like journeying through a storm so what you were going through for sure shows in what youve created.

I think one of the reasons this has resonated to much with me is how uplifting and lifeaffirming it is at the same time being hard hitting and black metal.

Inspirational to read.

Was curious about the albumcover but that makes perfect sense!

Album Rating: 5.0

Noctus ily, you're an amazing person and artist.



Glad you chose the latter [3]

Album Rating: 4.5

Very cool context noct, makes this hit even harder I’m sure

Album Rating: 5.0

He chose the latter! 😤



Hell yeah

Album Rating: 4.5

the triumphing over mental health demons definitely adds layers to this

Album Rating: 5.0

Fucking right boys.

Album Rating: 5.0

I cannot build myself up again

To watch myself fall apart at the seams

I cannot walk if I'm destined to fall

Through trials by design of cruelty and hate!!