Fuck me, another (missed last year) atmoblack record that thinks it's deep because it has acoustic bits and tribal drums. These guys (German scene or Ukrainian expats, who gives a shit) shove this sophomore thing out and it's got that second-wave rawness mixed with post-black melancholy and some pagan folk crap. It's not bad, it's just... there.
"Darkness Shall Reign" is a 2-minute intro mood piece - fine, whatever. Then "Winds of the Ancient Pantheons" blasts in with tremolo that sounds like every other band trying to be epic. Horns-up riffs, heavy layering, crushes okay. "Whispers of the Blackened Woods" does the acoustic lure-then-sinister thing - starts pretty, turns nasty with those stairstep melodies. Been done a thousand times but it still kinda works.
"When the Ravens Flow Through My Veins" is short and vicious, straight venom, no bullshit. "Through Time, Death and the Beast Within" has melodic tremolo and some clean moments that actually land - got a bit of heart in there, surprise surprise. "Mara Comes" is the creepy one everyone talks about - tribal drums, chanting like a demon queen, disquieting as fuck. Closer "Born from the Ashes of War" goes full aggressive rage with melody mixed in, ends on a high note.
Production is raw but pro - darkness breathes, no polished turd. But let's not pretend this is reinventing black metal. Songwriting is solid, not groundbreaking. If you're burned out on atmoblack clones this won't save you. Some tracks soothe like a cold one after a fight, others just terrify, but a lot of it blends together after a few spins.
If ominous melodic atmospheric black with growls and post touches is your poison, it'll do the job. For me, it's decent underground stuff that earns its place but doesn't make me lose my mind. Grab it if you're not a poser, skip if you're jaded.
https://www.facebook.com/Schreigarm/
Thanks to Grand Sounds PR
