There’s never any shortage of bands trying to bring melody to black metal, but those that are able to bring it forth in any meaningful form without the final result coming across as boring, flat, or even outright uninteresting are disappointingly few. The difference between a worthy and an unworthy riff can be minimal depending on what hands we’re dealing with at the time, but it’s always noticeable and stunning whenever we’re able to witness a band do it well. I wasn’t sure what I was going to get stepping into the second offering from Inherits the Void, but it was by the end of just the first track that it became clear that this is a name that’s not to be taken lightly.

I was unaware of the reputation that Inherits the Void made for itself given its debut album from just a few years ago, but even if I was in the know when it came to the already laid-out talent that there is in this one-man band it still wouldn’t have really offering much of an inkling as to what Inherits the Void managed to conjure for “The Impending Fall of the Stars”. As massive a creation as such a title would suggest, there wasn’t a single punch pulled in the crafting of these nine tracks with it being both a continuation of what its predecessor laid down while still offering us a performance that is undeniable one that doesn’t lean on the influences that went into the spirit of the act itself. The melodic factor is still a major part of what propels this album forward, but it’s far from the only thing that it has to boast about. The technical prowess and clear understanding of its craft effortlessly enables Inherits the Void to capture the ear of the listener practically in an instant as the hooks and riffs draw you in while it is the raw talent that keeps you rooted in place while each track of “The Impending Fall of the Stars” continues to show us new sides and delicious layers to the integral sound of the band such that it becomes a listen that’s as vicious as it is exquisite.

There is real passion and personality in this record that breathes true, undeniable life into these melodies where there would be flat, simple rhythms in lesser hands which Inherits the Void has shown yet again to be far above. The constant display of intrigue alongside an organic sound that’s as captivating as we could ask for out of a uncompromising style, “The Impending Fall of the Stars” more than scratches the itch that many of us constantly have.

“The Impending Fall of the Stars” releases on January 20th via Avantgarde Music!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “The Impending Fall of the Stars” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Inherits the Void on Facebook here.