When you’re Escortrilhium in the streets and Imperialist in the sheets. Or, alternatively, Imperialist in the Cambrian period. Or Imperialist in general (but, you know, if they came from Germany).

In Seven Crowns and Seven Seals, Sulphur Aeon finally decide to eschew the exploration of dystopian Lovecraftian futures for the impossibly distant mythical Lovecraftian past. Two sides of the same coin? Methinks not. And it works so well. Few black metal bands have gone in this direction, and indeed, it seems to be much more adopted across dungeon synth. I wouldn’t have been mad if this album was paleo dungeon synth inspired. But oh boy, is it not! Melodic, catchy, impeccably calculated, and roaringly well written, it’s immeasurably more listenable than any single paleo dungeon synth album ever released.

I admit, I’m not a blackened death metal listener, to say the least. It’s hardly a sub-genre that could impress me, but do colour me impressed. I even like the vocals, which is a rare occurrence in the context of blackened death. Though, in my opinion, this is less blackened death and more the other way around (deathened black?), or even melodic black death.

Fifth piece Arcane Cambrian Sorcery is a perfect black metal anthem. The things 4:24-5:05 does to me are unspeakable. It’s positively orgasmic. Though it does to me a lot more. Same thing with its successor Seven Crowns and Seven Seals. The refrain there is the very definition of “chef’s kiss”. This album will definitely sneak into everyone’s top 10 this year, and not inconspicuously.

Seven Crowns And Seven Seals is not your regular blackened death album – in that it’s not really blackened death. It’s more of occult black metal meets melodeath, and makes it conceptual and Lovecraftian horror-esque. At this sweet, sweet interception it basks in quiet yet ferocious glory. There’s genuinely something for anyone here. Sulphur Aeon have some of the catchiest hooks I’ve heard in yonks, and I’ve been hooked for I’ve lost count of how many listens now.

(9.5/10 The Flâneur)

https://www.facebook.com/SulphurAeon

https://sulphuraeon-vanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/seven-crowns-and-seven-seals