If you ask me, the worlds of black and doom metal aren’t merged often enough. They can make for such a striking concoction the likes of which metal rarely gets to see when it’s done right, but the combination isn’t nearly as common as some of us would like. But, when a band comes around that actually does the style well it makes the delivery of such glory all the sweeter for those of us lucky enough to hear it. In the case of Earthshine’s latest effort, that couldn’t be any further from the reality of this release.

Right out of the gate, that cover art is the exact sort of thing that draws us into the world that Earthshine has delicately created to provide us with an experience that’s as rewarding as it is enticing in all of its many facets that are all executed with stunning quality. It manages to capture the atmosphere that Earthshine commands at all times throughout the six memorable tracks of “My Bones Shall Rest Upon The Mountain”, the character gives us black metal vibes that are brought in fantastically, and the act of lamentation that he is committing (even the horse looks sad!) allows the immense notes of doom to come around with surprising potency to make the record something massive in virtually every respect before even a single note is performed. And to say that Earthshine delivered the goods for the lengths of the album would be to severely underestimate all that is accomplished, for this is the record that many of us black/doom fans can only ever pray for. This record manages to sprawl forth before our eyes in such intoxicating fashion that it’s all but impossible to rip yourself away once you allow Earthshine to set their hooks properly into you, and they’re not easily removed for you will be all but compelled to experience the entirety of “My Bones Shall Rest Upon The Mountain” all the way unto the end of that beyond-gorgeous finale track. Shit, they even manage to take a Bob Ross quote and make it fit with some scathing metal! How the fuck does that even happen? The sheer whole of this album is something that needs to be heard in order to be believed, and if there is to be a modern line-up of rising bands that bring nothing but excellence to the limited but glory-bound world of black/doom then Earthshine demands a spot at the very forefront of those conversations.

Australia has never once lacked in metal bands. Whether it be striking death metal acts like Sanzu, mind-bending black metal like Arkheth, or compelling doom creations like Roundtable, the continent always has more than enough to throw around, but it’s with Earthshine that something special in particular has been forged from within its borders. “My Bones Shall Rest Upon The Mountain” is the epitome of what many think the style can be with there being little to think that Earthshine could somehow top this striking creation, but I cannot help but feel that Earthshine is only just getting started with this all-around gorgeous work of intensity of all kinds.

LISTEN to “My Bones Shall Rest Upon The Mountain” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Earthshine on Facebook here.