Origin: Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands 🇳🇱
Genre: Black Metal
I guess you could call it a “meteoric rise”, but to what heights? The upper echelons of what’s considered to be true black metal, which isn’t really high at all. We’re still within the underground here, but it’s beneath the surface where artists like Helleruin’s Carchost feel most free as they create some of the genre’s most endearing works of BM wholesomeness, but also misery, misanthropy, war and death. The world’s finest black metal is found here. And artists like Werwolf (Satanic Warmaster), Hoest (Taake) and Carchost are simply unwilling to relinquish creative control – even the slightest – to any major record label.
Since the release of his 2016 demo, Carchost has established his self as a class act within the scene: respected and somehow a standout among the million other black metal soloists out there. This is due in part to his very genuine approach to the craft that has yielded a fine debut full-length LP, “War Upon Man” – a work of perfection that would be a challenge for anyone to have to follow up. On June 16, Helleruin independently released its valiant sophomore effort, “Devils, Death and Dark Arts”.
As with his previous work, “DD&DA” is a baser recording where core black metal instruments along with minimal effects provide a balanced atmosphere. The record opens in similar fashion to its predecessor with a whispering vocals intro, but following these hushed metaphorical sentence fragments comes a bit more energy – an attempt to no doubt set what should be a more impactful tone in order to meet the high expectations for this record on some common ground. Everything is crisper, louder and just hits with more authority.
“War Upon Man” was an unpredictable album that somehow felt familiar all the same. It just felt like Helleruin was in the zone, while “Devils, Death and Dark Arts” feels more like a statement-making album where Carchost pushes the limits a little further. The titular cut alone providing the listener with all the BM trimmings – a packed gullet full of compositional substance and enough energy to whip the hordes into a diabolical frenzy. And the melody, the soaring tones and the martial percussive approach – truly a sound to behold as it all clouds together into another perfect storm of BM.
When you listen to an album like “War Upon Man”, you become attached or even loyal to it. You almost don’t even want to hear anything as good or Hell forbid something even better. Expect to – reluctantly at first – make room for this latest volume next to Helleruin’s debut. And then expect to revel in the glory of what you will finally admit to be something of equal importance to the genre; something like “Riddles In Devil’s Tongue” that captures the primitive essence of Northern black metal as it simultaneously pays homage to the Nederlander way with subtle folkish undertones and not-so-subtle melodies – a flagship album cut with a regal, almost patriotic vibe to it that should make any Dutchman proud. A “Hymn of Life and Death” to cap off another stellar black metal album. Melancholy yet somehow with a sense of urgency and what I can only describe as a Katatonia level of sleekness to each riff. Notwithstanding its purity, this closing track transcends orthodox black metal with more dynamics, soul and this Harakiri For the Sky type of post-BM feel that tugs at the heartstrings as it induces the ever-sought-after eyes-closed, fist-clenched, religious black metal experience – pure Satanic ecstasy…
I don’t like handing out consecutive perfect scores for any two albums from any artist, particularly within the black metal circuit, but as the commoners say: “it is what it is”. “War Upon Man” and “Devils, Death and Dark Arts” are brilliant and with just the right contemporary touch, just the right level of what everyone is after these days; stripped-down 90’s flavor and full of classic aesthetic beauty that finely intertwines with world-class musicianship. And it matters not one iota if It just seems like I’m gushing over this project, because there are very few others out there who are putting together back to back definitive black metal albums like Helleruin – records that make you proud to be a black metal person.
10/10
Experience “Devils, Death and Dark Arts” by Helleruin right here:
~Jeger
