Sweden’s Black Lion Records has developed a real ear for 90s styled melodic/symphonic black, and from the label that has released excellent albums from the likes of Northwind Wolves, Hyperion, Meadows End, Sons ov Omega, Mist of Misery, Legacy of Emptiness and Vindland, comes another winner in the full length debut from homeland act Wormlight.

I’ve been on a real 90s melodic/symphonic black metal kick lately digging up my old Catamenia, Necrophobic, Unanimated, Naglfar, Dissecction, Sacramentum and Vinterland CDs, and like the recent effort from Switzerland’s Störtregn,  Wormlight certainly deliver a modern, polished, confident and competent take on the tried and tested sound. It’s more guitar heavy and focused on razor sharp melodic riffs than pure symphonics, though some keys are scatter around here and there.

The band shares 2 members with labelmates Sons ov Omega, but this is much more straightforward and less experimental or avant garde. This is just  straight forward 90s tremolo riffs and few slower militant marches, a few dashes of synths/atmosphere (start of “On Tattered Wings”, “Invocation”), with no straying from the path, especially vocally where Tiamat Invictuz and his two tone rasp/growl . The songs are a decent length (5 – 8 minutes) and when they lock into slicing melodic a riff such as  “Vittramark” or “The Ghostlight’s Dance”, it’s clear these guys know what they are doing and really know the source material.

Longer,  numbers like “Nightmare” or closer “Feast of the Mountain King” have a little more variety between the faster tempo and moodier, slower segues, and realistically could be trimmed a little, as the band is definitely more interesting when bearing down and delivering more fierce yet melodic brimstone filled anthems like “On Tattered Wings” or “Cry of the Nameless”. In all, a solid release that won’t be a game changer, but definitely has scratched my recent 90s itch and is a no frills homage to a classic genre.

[Visit the band's website]

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