Black metal has on multiple occasions sought to tackle themes and settings that can only be described as nothing else than absolutely epic. It’ll always depend on the band in question on what kind of epic you’re to get, and it’s such variety and seeming randomness that will always keep me coming back to the style. Diving into the latest effort from Ancient Gate, I wasn’t sure what I was expecting but a nearly hour-long monumental record that’s as scathing as it is engaging was a more than welcome surprise.

While the sound here is a lot more scathing and underground-feeling than what the cover art might mislead you into thinking how it did for me, make no mistake here as “Empire Beyond Dusk” is an album with more than enough tenacity, vicious tactics, and bloodthirsty impulses to keep the attention of many who want to dive into the brutal tale that’s told here. Ancient Gate clearly knew exactly what they wanted to go for here, how they wanted to execute, and they had the talent to pull it off flawlessly which is something that not as many bands possess as we may think, and that makes this record all the more interesting when you take into account all the different layers that are constantly at play throughout “Empire Beyond Dusk”. For all eleven tracks, we’re given an interesting mix of the occasional piece of atmosphere to set or change the stage, the scathing black metal that we all came for that absolutely fits the bill, and an epic overtone to everything that, in my opinion, really makes the record pop where even though “Empire Beyond Dusk” would still be noteworthy it without, the epicness absolutely elevates this record a good deal. It’s all brought together incredibly well to make for a tightly knit and well-crafted listen that’s a slightly nice breath of fresh air when it comes to black metal, and it’s clear that Ancient Gate was more than up to the task for this album for in its entirety the piece rarely has a pitfall or stumbles in any form as it processes forward with real presence and purpose.

Epic works aren’t exactly few and far between in the world of black metal, but it’s not too terribly often that we come across one that’s really worth its own salt, and I can’t help but feel that Ancient Gate absolutely meets the criteria for being considered as such. Everything about “Empire Beyond Dusk” exudes talent and a capacity for excellence, and it’s by the end that you’re left wondering what else they’re capable of if they can pull off something like this.

LISTEN to “Empire Beyond Dusk” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Ancient Gate on Facebook here.