We are opened up with a howling wind which is then built upon by hypnotic guitar work before the full band launch into a melodic black metal landscape, all creating a basis on which the vicious and malevolent vocals can be launched from. The backdrop is magnetic and absorbing, rhythmic and almost soothing whilst keeping a core of brutality and spite about it all. The track, ‘The Emergence Of Being’ is all encompassing and almost marathonic in stature, the range which the vocals hit is decadent and a true wingspan of albatross proportions. The body of the track is pulsing and melodic and this helps draw you into the furious and emotional capsule in which the track sits proudly.
‘Drifting In The Sea Of Flames’ sees a more frenetic pace to the track than the one we have just left. The vocals seem more determined to carve you open and dine on your organs and arteries whilst the track keeps an element of a depraved melody and the speed is turned up a notch to create an even more brutal and alluring track on which to beat us with. The track has a less obvious beauty about it, although this by no means is less appealing, if anything the rawness and inflammation leans only to producing a captivating essence about the whole chapter. Mid track we welcome some spoken word, this is injected at a perfect point in time, if only to offer a component of respite before dragging you back into the fray.
‘Companion Of Light’ begins doomier with a more brutal and epic vertebrae. The vocals are more calculated with more power and muscle sitting behind them. The musical score is punctuated frequently with intricate and delicate strains and the drum work is powerful and imposing from the off. The whole makeup of the track, from the strings to the vocals, is more reminiscent of Scandinavian roots rather than the Germanic origin on which it was born. A track of true epic proportions.
Past the mid-way mark now and ‘Threatening Shadows’ is an ideal vehicle on which to pour down the home straight on. It keeps some composure whilst still delivering on the raw and vindictive edge to the track. there is no let up with the amount of energy and passion which is delivered from within the track, the music intertwining perfectly with the vocal effort, creating a truly maniacal spirit to the whole body of work. The frame on which the varying components are sat is solid and titanium in stature, the strings yet again mesmerising in their formation and liberation.
‘Lonely The Moon Is Enthroned’ is truly demonic, infernal and diabolical from the opening chords. The vocals are even more intimidating and aggressive, being spat out with true belief and violence, vocals which are truly compounding in their hellish intentions. The drums are delirious and chaotic yet in the most controlled and meticulous manner, commanding a pace and speed which the fret maestros seem only too keen to match, if not take one step ahead on the speed and ferocity stakes. One of the longer tracks on the release, with good purpose, It serves up a varied constitution and the track length is certainly needed in order to fit all of the varying components into the framework. It is measured, chaotic and dignified in all of its elements, a true showcase of the talents and endowments that Stiriah have to throw at us.
The album is closed out with ‘My Burden The Last Crown’ and what an epic number to bow out on. The rhythm is delivered in spades and the vocals seem even more ritualistic, brutal, and callous than before. The track is compelling, absorbing and gripping. The melody sitting in the background is fighting to be released to the forefront but for this to happen it would have to fight and maul its way past the aggressive, hostile, and violent vocals. The track seems more restrained and determined yet keeping the all-encompassing raw and passionate core on which the whole release has been built and released upon.
‘…Of Light’ is the third full length release from Stiriah and if this album is anything to go by then these German black metal sculptors are ones you need to become well accustomed to. This is a release you need in your collection and when I say need, I mean as of like yesterday
(9/10 Phil Pountney)
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