Whenever I’m listening to black metal that’s even slightly reminiscent of the old school I’m always wary of it simply because many bands either go way too far or don’t try hard enough to really nail that feeling. Yet, there are plenty of bands that manage to incorporate elements of both the old and the new school while still keeping them fresh, tasty, and ripe for exploration in a way that very few bands can manage. Metamorphosis didn’t exactly stand out to me at first, but their most recent piece is truly delicious.

A band that can manage to create an album and then make it a diverse one in terms of sound and yet makes it both alluring and entertaining to boot is a skill that all too few have. I had a feeling that Metamorphosis’ “The Secret Art” was going to fit that description right from the opening track, and the ensuing nine tracks after that solidified that feeling as absolute fact as Metamorphosis truly allows their sixth full-length to shine in all of its unholy splendor. “The Secret Art” really allows Metamorphosis to showcase a brilliant sense of black metal that dances all over influences from all sorts of places as these Germans are capable of summoning a record that’s equally heavy as it is distinctive. The whole of the album has a very classic feel to it, but the band doesn’t shy away at all from making it known that they don’t want to remain anchored in the past and thus incorporate more modern elements to “The Secret Art”. It’s a concoction that can easily inbalance itself right off the bat, but Metamorphosis pulls it off like they’ve been playing since ’94 (which they have). And by the time you reach the end of “The Secret Art”, you’ll realize you’ve been locked into an odd hypnosis that only a special kind of black metal can produce, and Metamorphosis does it by taking over your mind without you even fucking realizing it.

It’s always neat to me to see bands that have been kicking since the 90s and still manage to pump out material of all sorts. Metamorphosis is no exception and this new record is a beauty in it of itself, and I’m positive it’s the sort of things many fans are wanting to hear as “The Secret Art” truly has a little bit for everybody.

LISTEN to “The Secret Art” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Metamorphosis on Facebook here.