Every year, we’re given quite an array of albums that seek to take some sort of claim to renown in the vast underground with hundreds upon thousands of pieces competing and showing us all what they’re made of even if they aren’t striving to be named the best of the best. Be it through word of mouth, immense levels of anticipation, or something else altogether, each year sees a select group of creations rise above the rest in their given fields. For the realm of death-black metal, we’re never in any shortage in any given year for greatness with the only difference for individuals being their own taste. While we’ve already been given the likes of multiple Esoctrilihum pieces, Nightmarer coming at us with a splendid vision that was then re-done to spectacular effect, Vertebra Atlantis with it standing as one of its creators best works to date, and far more, the name of Sulphur Aeon was one that was welcome to many. For me, however, I never actually took the plunge and experienced what I knew many renowned. Now, I find myself wondering how I’ve missed out on such experiences over the years with their latest opus one that has ripped my eyes wide open.

When I sat down a few weeks ago and went to start my usual meandering on Bandcamp, my eyes landed upon Sulphur Aeon yet again. Even after seeing their previous two albums receive wide renown, Sulphur Aeon has long been a name that I’ve never sat down and properly got into for no particular reason other than I just simply never got around to it. I had heard tales of their immense power and dynamic presence that had much to offer in virtually every regard, and I had no doubts as to their prowess given the nearly universal praises. Sitting down and putting on the headphones to explore “Seven Crowns and Seven Seals”, however, I quickly discovered that I have well and truly been missing out on something grand over the years if this album is but one offering from Sulphur Aeon. By all intents and purposes, this is an album that stands far above the vast majority of any and all of its competition in the widening maw of madness that is the global underground scene.

Hands down, “Seven Crowns and Seven Seals” is a true beast of a creation. Right from your eyes landing on yet another mesmerizing and haunting piece from the Italian master of metal art that is Paolo Girardi, it quickly becomes clear that Sulphur Aeon has crafted an eviscerating experience that encapsulates so much of what this style is always capable of with only the very elite and skilled of its craftsmen able to put together something that comes even close to this magnitude of horrific splendor. Cosmic in its setting and no less than Lovecraftian in its essence, “Seven Crowns and Seven Seals” has much to unravel if you’re both brave and foolish enough to decipher its many forbidden truths. Rich in all forms of chaos but never once forgetting to give attention to the more ethereally gorgeous aspects of the style that is often overlooked, Sulphur Aeon is always keeping the listener on their toes for what’s to come next as they’re constantly armed with melodies, dirges from beyond reality, and a level of craftsmanship that cannot be deemed as anything short of masterful.

There is magic within the depths of this album. It is dark and unholy magic that isn’t afraid to drive its acolytes mad in order to achieve its goals, but it is nonetheless viciously compelling to behold. For all that it dares to be, “Seven Crowns and Seven Seals” succeeds wildly with all of it! Where we have seen many different bands of all different origins come together over the years to show what the foreboding realm of death-black metal is still capable of, it is because of acts like Sulphur Aeon that we’re still able to be dumbfounded every so often by something we could not have predicted. For all that they’ve accomplished in these seven monolithic tracks, Sulphur Aeon has crafted what is certainly one of the very best records of the year.

LISTEN to “Seven Crowns and Seven Seals” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Sulphur Aeon on Facebook here.