When Labyrinthus Stellarum dropped their second album, Vortex of the Worlds, they didn’t just release another cosmic black metal record - they opened a portal. The Odesa(Ukraine)-based duo has taken the swirling darkness of their debut, Tales of the Void, and launched it into an even more ambitious trajectory.
From the opening moments, shimmering guitar textures and icy tremolo riffs collide with pulsating synths, creating a sound that feels like it’s ripping through the fabric of space. There’s chaos here - yes - but also precision, as if every note was carefully calculated to echo in the vast emptiness of the cosmos.
Listening to Vortex of the Worlds feels like piloting a doomed spacecraft through an alien nebula. The blast beats hammer down like meteor showers, while Oleksandr Andronati’s searing vocals cut through with an otherworldly desperation. Just when the intensity reaches its peak, the music pulls back, letting you drift into passages of haunting ambience where synths and droning guitars merge into a surreal haze.
The inclusion of electronic elements doesn’t feel tacked on; instead, they pulse through the album like a lifeline. In quieter moments, they evoke the eerie hum of distant stars, while in heavier sections, they add a modern edge that feels fresh yet firmly rooted in the genre’s ethos.
Despite its celestial scope, the album isn’t without its limits. The transitions between black metal fury and atmospheric introspection, while masterful at times, occasionally feel too comfortable. Some sections linger a little too long, circling the same melodic ideas without venturing further into uncharted audial territories. While this may enhance the hypnotic quality for some, others might find their attention drifting.
Still, the emotional resonance of Vortex of the Worlds is undeniable. There’s an undercurrent of existential weight throughout, as if the band is less interested in depicting the beauty of the cosmos and more intent on exploring its cold indifference. It’s black metal for those who stare into the night sky not with wonder, but with dread.
For fans of bands like Darkspace or Vorga, this album is an essential listen. Turn down the lights, crank up the volume, and let Labyrinthus Stellarum guide you through the void.
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Thanks to Grand Sounds PR.