Every so often, black metal sees a select few bands rise out of the underground to really gain favor from listeners and become real bastions of quality. In recent times, we’ve seen the likes of Mesarthim, Lamp of Murmuur, Panopticon, and so many more rise out of nothingness to become modern faces of the sound that are undeniably forces not to be trifled with. For all that its done in a relatively short time, Dwarrowdelf has come a long way to become a big player in the landscape of fantastical black metal with influences typically within Tolkien’s realms. Now, however, it is with its fifth full-length album that we see the act take a turn in its sound and influence yet never once forgetting where it came from.

While this album’s title and cover art would lead you to believe that Dwarrowdelf has made a record centered around the lore of Elden Ring, that is not wholly the case even if such a record would be a slam dunk for Dwarrowdelf given its credentials and the overabundance Elden Ring has in ways of inspirational lore. Still taking pages from the likes of Tolkien yet never once failing to incorporate themes from all over its spectrum of influences, “The Fallen Leaves” stands wildly tall in a discography that was already something to be respected, yet Dwarrowdelf really seems to have tapped into something else altogether to bring this record to life. Filled with the same exact magic that has always made Dwarrowdelf’s brand of folk-wreathed black metal nigh-on enchanting, the intensities, melodies, and atmospheres all feel distinctly different – more potent – with it becoming all the more apparent as the record goes on. Within each track there are secrets to be uncovered and gorged upon as “The Fallen Leaves” whether it comes in the form of a simply beautiful sidebar of pure, angelical notes or moments that are more death metal than anything else before falling back into that trademark black metal flavor; Dwarrowdelf has never been deadlier or more intoxicating. This is the kind of record where talent really shows us how excellent it has truly become with Dwarrowdelf not just succeeding every step along the way for “The Fallen Leaves”, but putting forth a creation that can very easily be argued its magnum opus thus far.

When we’re given bands like Dwarrwodelf, it is ever so easy to simply label every new creation as “their best yet” or anything of the sort, but Dwarrowdelf more than qualifies as such. Ever since coming on board with “The Sons of Fëanor” but six years ago, the evolution of Dwarrowdelf is nothing short of bewildering. Whether this is the natural evolution that the act was always destined to take, or it was pushed forward in the mastermind’s involvement in bands like Sojourner matters not, for to stand within the magical realms of “The Fallen Leaves” is to find yourself before an utterly gorgeous work. If nothing else, Dwarrowdelf finds itself once more in a position to be tagged with one of the year’s very best performances even if the year only just started.

“The Fallen Leaves” releases on Feburary 2nd via Northern Silence Productions!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “The Fallen Leaves” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Dwarrowdelf on Facebook here.