Often the implementation of dour emotion finds its way into the world of metal given the natural catharsis and release that comes with the style, and there have always been bands to capitalize on that simple fact with entire subgenres being born out of that natural connection. In particular, black metal has been a bastion of seeing that take place. There are plenty of bands out there that try to bring evocative performances to life that don’t come across as much more than half-hearted attempts despite how genuine many pour their very sorrows into their creations. For their newest effort, it’s clear that Eternal Helcaraxe dug deep in order to make for a compelling performance that’s as true to themselves as it is intense with that being just the beginning of what they’ve done here.

A big issue that many have had with anything connected to black metal of this kind, especially when placed firmly within the underground realm of depressive black metal, is the production quality of the material in question. It can feel as though the lo-fi approach is a necessity for the sound in the eyes of many with there certainly being a time and place for it, but there’s nothing quite like a performance that can rend the soul while still managing to have a respectable production value from beginning to end. That was but the first sign that I had to clue me into the excellence that Eternal Helcaraxe would bring to the table with “Drown in Ash” with the ensuing material all but worthy of such attention to detail. A creation that’s as atmospheric as it is eviscerating in multiple instances, this is one of those albums that accomplishes its mission from every given angle. The power, the emotion, the talent, and the cohesiveness of it all come together magnificently to make “Drown in Ash” what should be hailed as a glorious rendition of black metal in this particular vein done to a tremendous degree as not only is it a compelling work for all that it manages to bring to the table, but it shows us both what an approach like this is still capable of in the hands of the very capable as well as how adept that their craft Eternal Helcaraxe simply are.

In a landscape that can be filled with bands that just fall short in more than one way, to witness a band like Eternal Helcaraxe come around and check off all the right boxes to craft an overall experience that delivers on every given front is to bear witness to something undoubtedly magnificent. The melodic factor of “Drown in Ash” will undoubtedly draw many into this record, but there is so much more to what there is to enjoy than simply that with the simple reality of this bleak album something that simply demands to be heard.

LISTEN to “Drown in Ash” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Eternal Helcaraxe on Facebook here.