While the many different avenues of black metal can lead to any band taking their sound in a new direction at any given moment, the simple act of a band altering the direction of their sound can feel downright abrupt at times. In the right hands, like many things, it can be done to tremendous effect, however. A rebound, though, is something that we rarely get to see at all. When I had heard that Tome of the Unreplenished was ready to present another opus to us, little did I know it would be a return to a previous form for the name as well as a monolithic step forward in every aspect.

Starting out as a black metal act that took an atmospheric angle with some mind-bending aspects, it was quite a vicious shift when Tome of the Unreplenished ventured into the void of noise with its EP from 2017 followed by a split with Starless Domain two years later following the same sonic path. Given that trend, I was all but convinced that the entity would continue its travels in the world of noise with maybe even a follow-up to that EP somewhere over the horizon, but the reality of “Earthbound” is another shift that I wasn’t expecting. Doubling back into the realm of atmospheric black metal, it’s hard not to look into all that’s accomplished within the six tracks of this bold release and not feel as though this is the opus that Tome of the Unreplenished has long been building up to despite its sonic schizophrenia. A more straight-forward release than what some people might expect after some other excursions from this act, there isn’t a single aspect of “Earthbound” that isn’t done to maximum effect as it’s at every turn that Tome of the Unreplenished manages to craft a particularly special listen that feels downright ethereal for the entirety of the record while there are loads of choice moments that show us just how vicious it can still be with the refined line-up really showing us what they can do. It quickly accumulates to make for a deep listen that feels all too short, but “Earthbound” doesn’t overstay its welcome for as much as a second with the black metal wielding gripping atmospheres that are brought together beautifully with talented riffage and ferocity that ends up gloriously with an ambient-driven finale that encapsulates all that Tome of the Unreplenished brings to the table for its second full-length album.

As diverse a listen as we could possibly ask for out of a band like this, how can one not come out of “Earthbound” and not feel enlightenment of an especially unique breed as the very planets align for this new era of Tome of the Unreplenished to start with such an engrossing experience? There were so many expectations that I had going into this creation, yet I find almost all of them defied with the only true constant being assured excellence with the very core of what’s to be had in these six tracks the very essence of artistry taken to a hauntingly glorious extent.

“Earthbound” releases on April 8th via Avantgarde Music!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “Earthbound” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Tome of the Unreplenished on Facebook here.