Armed with some slightly altered Dylan Thomas poetry, Ofnus are a new entity but one with roots in other groups such as Agrona, Democratus, Blind Divide & Black Pyre. Very much in the mould of similar UK based bands like Soar, Fen, Winterfylleth & Old Corpse Road their atmospheric brand of black metal seems heavily inspired by both environment and history. With their cheerfully entitled debut album it’s the rugged coastline and mountains of South Wales that they transport us to and in the process take us far from the tourist trail. Their blackness is a bleak and sombre one, etched in doom-laden and mournful melody, traipsing less trodden and abandoned pathways, unchanged by time. There are some occasional hefty barrages within, so it is far from one dimensional but overall they have crafted quite an evocative listening experience here over the eight songs contained here.

Night is deep and has fallen without intrusion of manmade artificiality as we slowly take in the stars and are ‘Burned By The Soul Of The Moon.’ Guitars twang, drums roll and the vocals are craggy eldritch rasps. Amidst some galloping surges melody twists and turns and the lengthy track draws you in admirably. Suddenly there are some excellent clean choral backing vocals sweeping you off your feet and carrying you off as well as some mournful guitar soloing riding on their back and over the hills and valleys. It’s enough to make you want to visit the Brecon Beacons and climb to the summit of Pen Y Fan and as we flow into ‘The Endless Grey’ imagination has been completely captured. Like the weathered edifices worn down by time we are in no hurry now, the atmosphere is left to captivate and the contrast between the moribund snarls and lofty backing croons allows it all to flow with a natural grace. ‘Fading Dreams’ ups the pace and drive this more aggressive and shorter number no doubt a rousing one live and will see the band being a welcome addition to the New Blood stage at Bloodstock a few weeks down the line. It has thunder behind it and as one knows the elements should never be taken for granted in the heartland the band call home. Still it’s not all full pelt ahead and has its own sense of doom via a spoken word passage and the traditional and folkloric sounding, yet grandiose melody of ‘Grains Of Sand’ is bound to equally buoy the listener in a similar fashion to the aforementioned Saor. Nostalgia is very much at its heart.

There’s a noticeable break via ‘Monody’ an interlude designed as lamentation its funereal poetry delivered by subtle feminine operatic choral parts and serving as a set up to the final three mighty numbers. ‘Exulansis’ is sweeping in passion both musically and vocally, full of proud vigour it really gets the juices flowing whilst ‘Echoes’ is a vitriolic thumper with brooding skies unleashing their stormy tempest. As far as evocative melodies are concerned though it is the ultimate track ‘A Thousand Lifetimes’ which delivers the most entrancing and could well be the band’s anthem in a similar fashion to Winterfylleth’s greatest odes to Albion.

The ever reliable Finnish label Naturmacht have mined some great treasure from Wales here and for a debut Time Held… is a powerful declaration of intent. Hopefully it will get the attention it deserves.

(8/10 Pete Woods)

https://www.facebook.com/Ofnus

https://ofnusnp.bandcamp.com/album/time-held-me-grey-and-dying