Origin: Finland 🇫🇮 • Germany 🇩🇪 • Greece 🇬🇷
Genre: Vampyric Black Metal • Dungeon Synth • Black Metal
Backed by the prestigious Purity Through Fire, Order of Nosferat are stalwartly carving their names into each passing year’s stone as they nocturnally toil away at their craft – Wampyric black metal of the most primal yet darkly elegant consortium. This cross-continental duo (Germany – Finland) consisting of Count Revenant and Anzillu have shed – like life’s blood from freshly pierced carotid flesh – four albums in the past two years of their bloodthirsty existence onto the fertile soil of the European black metal underground.
Hailing from Greece – home to Rotting Christ, Varathron, the now disbanded Necromantia and one of the proudest, most respected black metal scenes, Lunar Spells are casting from Helladic shadows their own mystical emanations. Another freshly-born black metal project; a trio this time whose style – instead of being an homage to the pioneering Greek BM trifecta I mentioned above, is more of a deep tapping into of hard-flowing Finnish melodicism, but in raw form and with a touch of the elegant drama that the Greek scene is known for. Lunar Spells have released two records thus far for their label – the renowned throughout the underground, Northern Silence Productions.
On June 2, Order of Nosferat and Lunar Spells will release their highly-anticipated cross-label split, “Shadowrealm Incantations”.
Now, deep into enchanted corridors of Transylvanian catacombs we go – ancients stirring from their eonic slumber into a reluctant waking now as the sound of Wampyric black metal and dungeon synth echo through hallowed halls. Order of Nosferat just doing what they do best here, which is to offer up from the crypts the simplest, sweetest and the most organic BM experience. Intoxicatingly melodic are tracks like “To the Mountains of Wallachia”, “Scars of Nocturnal Terrors” and “Bloodthirst and Morbid Lust” that channel Sargeist and flow to similar melodic currents – raw yet brisk and alive with a subtle triumphant vibe. And those trademark dungeon synth alternations? As sweet as ever. “Whispers From the Crypts” and “Melodies Echo From the Abandoned Castle” left thoughtfully at the rear and fore of the other cuts as romantic reflection/medieval fantasy pieces. Another highly-visual and comprehensive work out of Order of Nosferat.
A smooth transition is made from the castles and dungeons of yore over to the funeral at hand in Lunar Spells’ contribution. Following a most elegant yet dismal intro that evokes images of freshly embalmed corpses lying in their caskets for those left behind to behold in morbidity, the atmosphere and the music come alive. A post-mortem journey to be taken as “Beholding the Summoners of Winterfall” snatches you out from the icy grip of death into where only the melody and the melancholy matter. Again with the channeling of Finnish style; a nod to Horna here as I’m reminded of their 2005 “Envaatnags Eflos Solf Esgantaavne” record. “Wounds of Forgotten Daylight” with its rich atmosphere and the closer, “Malefic Incarnation”, with its malicious dark energy left to guide us through from the shadows of depression into the void. Scandinavian melodies, Greek passion…
Albums like “Shadowrealm Incantations” are what make the underground special. In the age-olde spirit of collaboration and one collective bringing out the very best in another, Order of Nosferat and Lunar Spells have delivered a genre-defining split; a double-edged weapon of an album that glimmers under torches glow as you make your way through the crypts of both the castle and the mind. Two great bands, two great labels, one astounding effort… True black metal through and through.
9/10
Experience “To the Mountains of Wallachia” by Order of Nosferat right here:
Experience “Beholding the Summoners of Winterfall” by Lunar Spells right here. Both presented by Purity Through Fire:
~Jeger
