Greetings, Decibel readers!
The big story, stylistically, in black metal in 2024 was seeing the wave of bands that emerged in the late 2010s diverge between the enduring and inspiring leaders — and those that fall into the vast sandy beaches of “raw” or “vampiric” blandness. To be sure, I’m very easily swayed by raw, vampiric black metal, just as I’m very easily swayed by a decent cup of coffee. But I don’t go around telling people about the wonders of a decent cup of coffee, because it’s not a remarkable thing unless you’ve gone several weeks without one. If I have an amazing cup that really surprises me, on the other hand, then I’m going to tell people about it.
I think it’s fair to say that the wave of intentionally raw, crude, and primitive black metal that burst forth around 2017 has crested. Sure, straightforward black metal has always had “rawness” to it, but this was a manner of playing that went beyond echoing A Blaze in the Northern Sky to try and sound even MORE lo-fi than Vampires of Black Imperial Blood. And yes, there will always be bands out there that do this, but most listeners attention will be dedicated to bands like four of those I mention below: Departure Chandelier, Hulder, Spectral Wound, Saidan. Likewise, the future looks bright for Lamp of Murmuur, Kehkt Arakh, Ungfell, and a handful of other bands across the world — along with the respected legacy bands that predate the mid-2010s (like Paysage d’Hiver).
So if you want a vision of black metal’s future, look to the bands below. See you all in 2025!
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Departure Chandelier – Satan Soldier Of Fortune
Departure Chandelier tightened things up on their 2024 release, and while it might not have the same charm as Antichrist Rise to Power, there is a cutting efficiency at work here that’s easy to admire. It’s sort of like a more melodic, catchier version of Akitsa at this point. Hey, no complaints here. In fact, as I said in the recent print edition of Decibel showcasing our top 40 albums of the year, Ridley Scott should have used this as his soundtrack to the Napoleon movie. Maybe the next album will be about Napoleon’s time as an artillery officer during the revolution.
Stream: Apple Music
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Hulder – Verses In Oath
It took me a moment to warm up to this album. I was a huge fan of Godlastering and still maintain that as Hulder‘s superior work, but after a while, Verses in Oath won me over. This album boasts a stronger low end, both in terms of the string instruments and the vocals, and this gives it a sort of power that was missing from the previous album. So in this sense, it’s not better or worse, but just different. Whereas Godlastering presented the listener with atmosphere, songs like “Boughs Ablaze” and “Enchanted Steel” give you explosive, unstoppable power. It’s as close to death metal as black metal can probably get without actually crossing the barrier. It’s a fascinating turn for Hulder to take, and can’t wait to see where she takes us next.
Stream: Apple Music
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Paysage d’Hiver – Die Berge
As I wrote a few weeks ago in November:
For those of you following along at home, this album finds Wintherr basically splitting the difference between the long, emotive compositions of Im Wald and the punchier, more immediate vibes of Geister. While it doesn’t have quite the same highs as Im Wald, it still acts as a fine addition to the saga of “The Wanderer.” Pay particular attention to “Verinnerlichung” and “Asstieg.”
Stream: Apple Music
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Saidan – Visual Kill: The Blossoming of Psychotic Depravity
Well, this is embarrassing — I totally overlooked this album when it came out in May and regret putting off my praise and enjoyment as a result. Saidan meets one of the gold standards of playing any sort of metal in 2024, in that they take a recognizable style and somehow put a spin on it that makes it seem totally fresh. No one else is making songs like “Desecration of a Lustful Illusion” or “Switchblade Paradise.” It’s a blend of pure black metal energy blended with the sentimentality of alternative music and the attack of horror-themed punk. It’s like if peak-era AFI made raw black metal. I wonder if Davey Havok has heard these guys, I bet he’d dig them.
Stream: Apple Music
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Spectral Wound – Songs of Blood and Mire
My favorite album of the year, and Decibel‘s #3 choice. As I wrote in Decibel #245:
Songs of Blood and Mire is both a culmination and an evolution of the band’s characteristic sound. It shows the success of their approach in which “a free rein was given to our impulses… at some point Illusory said, ‘Let there be rock,’ and, lo and behold…”
Stream: Apple Music