From the Vastland is fundamentally a Norwegian black metal band whose music and lyrics are influenced by Persian history and mythology. Its members have associations with renowned bands including Horizon Ablaze, Gaahls Wyrd and 1349. From the Vastland has been releasing albums since 2011. “Tenebrous Shadows” is its eighth.

What I was listening to was fiery black metal at the forefront with a tinge of Arabic additive where required. “Fiend Mool Infant” starts the album and has these qualities. I had the sense of a very dark story being told. The sound is all-encompassing black metal with a haughtiness that gives it an epic flavour. Whistling winds and a traditional instrument lead into “Asto Vidatu”, another ferocious, shredding black metal attack. There is melody in the rhythm, but such is the harshness and fury that From the Vastland cannot be accused of compromise. Once again amid the swathes of darkness there is an ascent to a majestic scene, and so the piece ends. “99999” is the next song. The guitar sounds like a siren. The drums blast away. There is a break and the song moves forward relentlessly to a hypnotic and contemptuous rhythm. The song expands and while the underscore remains menacing, there’s all hell going on at the front it. But it’s tightly controlled. It slows down and a dark voice utters words. The pace now borders on funereal, but such is the skill of From the Vastland that every passage develops into something else. Here it’s a desperate, defiant cry. The cold riff goes on undisturbed. Into the world of “Tenebrous Shadow” we go. Its cold rhythm points to a world of threat. The croaking voice returns. Above all this is relentless and From the Vastland make us know it with this highly impressive harsh wall of noise mixed with menace. “Luciferous Eyes” was similarly full of menacing atmosphere and fire but unlike some earlier moments in the album didn’t reach the heights. “Battle of Dead Meadow” begins by taking the slow and creepy route before the fiery assault resumes, only being interrupted by a short section involving a traditional guitar. “Until Dawn” is one final no-holes-barred attack. Expansive in its sound as always, it is full of venom. The croaking voice reappears as the song slows down before breaking out for one final volley of fire and brimstone.

The key quality that I identified in “Tenebrous Shadow” was its intensity. Apart from a couple of small sections here and there, I didn’t detect much of the Persian influence, which does not matter so much as it was never going to compete with the black metal fire which pours out of the album.

(7/10 Andrew Doherty)

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https://thecrawlingchaosrecords.bandcamp.com/album/tenebrous-shadow