The element of fantasy is something that has been something of a sight to behold in the world of black metal given how attractive it can be with the added challenge of simply bringing it to life since it requires an adept hand at bringing it to life in a form that can be considered attractive or interesting to listeners. When done right, you’re met with a hypnotic record that can take on many different forms be it magical or larger-than-life in essence, and it’s something that many attempts to achieve with there definitely being many instances of success dotted throughout the underground, yet it’s hard to continuously succeed in such a wonder. For Witcher, it has seemed to come naturally over the years with their latest creation arguably their most captivating yet.

Whether or not you’re going for a sound that is intentionally infused with a magical sound or even if you’re going for a backdrop born out of some fantasy franchise that’s epic in scope with loads of magic within, it doesn’t matter so long as you can capture those keynotes to deliver a performance that’s as potent as it is focused in its vision. In the case of Witcher, any hesitation one might have when it comes to the very quality of their excellence should be dismissed immediately for not only does the band manage to pull it off with surprising excellence, it’s all brought together in such a form of atmospheric black metal to where it’s downright compelling right out of the gate without seeming to so much as break a single sweat in pursuing such a vision with the final result of “Lélekharang” feeling like what many try to achieve when tackling a record of this kind. Out of the gate, this record is compelling in damn near every single way. In no instance does Witcher let their power get away from them as every given minute of “Lélekharang” is a coordinated offensive with a direct route of intent with more enough glory and beautiful sights along the way that goes hand-in-hand with the horrors and terrible visions that are seen along that very same road be it in the form of flames, bloodshed, or both with it all coming together for a delicious performance that is surprisingly balanced yet devilishly precise in its intent.

This is the kind of atmospheric black metal that is crafted with a real knack for the style with how utterly gripping it is in just about every facet from the melodies to the atmosphere to the tasteful Beethoven take to close the album out on. “Lélekharang” manages to do what many can only ever hope to bring forth in fantastical black metal of this variety without once sacrificing the original roots of what black metal has always been to make Witcher not just a band that is clearly on the path to success in the underground, but one that is not to be underestimated whatsoever.

LISTEN to “Lélekharang” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Witcher on Facebook here.