You kind of know what you are getting into here from the get-go: the band name taken from a Vlad Tepes song, the album title, the corpse painted, armored promo shots of lone Finnish member, Lord Vrăjitor, (also of Old Sorcery and doom act Musta Risti) the logo, the cool artwork, prior releases named Burning Banners of the Funereal War and Pure Cold Impurity. Pure 90s black metal. And it doesn’t disappoint.

This is straight out of 1997, second wave, slightly symphonic/melodic, Scandinavian black metal culled straight from early, primal days of Dimmu Borgir, Emperor, Abigor, Ancient, Obtained Enslavement, and such (though the band lists Isvind, Throne of Ahaz and Swordmaster as some of their direct influences also). With song titles like “Purging Nefarious Vortex”, “Empowered with Battlespells” and “In Perennial Twilight”, it only cements the musty, but nostalgic aura, right down to the sweeping, shrill tremolo riffs, rasped vocals, regal old school keyboards and a cold, clear but nostalgic old school production (both improved from the debut considerably).

Right from the intro “Virtus Tenebris”, virtually a 2-minute homage to the classics of that era, you can name pretty well all the major players of the era/scene that influence this project. “Purging Nefarious Vortex” follows that up with a strong opener that delivers all the goods before “Of A Moribund Vision”, with an opening riff and keyboard line that could have come from Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (the same can be said for the recurring riff about a minute into “Empowered with Battlespells” and rousing “Oracles of War”).

And that’s pretty well the formula for the rest of the album’s succinct, 38-minute run time. A throwback, but modern atmospheric, feral classicism that drips from every note. Other songs /moments of note is the majestic, regal intro to the superbly melodic “The Key of the Moonpiercer”, and the epic, 8 minute- closer “In Perennial Twilight” that puts a perfect endnote on a perfect, 90s black metal homage album.

[Visit the band's website]

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