Allowing things to unfold before your eyes can be a viciously rewarding experience given more than a little bit of luck in finding an entity that can bring such an event about. To find such an organic band that is able to keep their sound moving forward wherever it may take them while taking every step with surprising confidence that leads to immense quality in practically every instance is to find a one in a million acts. Wormwood has been known for being just such a creation for years now with their reputation, power, and scope only growing with time. Now, with their latest album, they show us what all they’re still capable of even after one banger release after another.

Normally, it can take a band several albums of doing the same exact sound before they finally find some more room to grow and are able to capitalize on that, but it’s ever since their third album, “Nattarvet”, five years ago, Wormwood has been adamant in making it crystal clear that they are not a band content in traveling down the same paths ad nauseum. Constantly bringing new approaches to their particular form of black metal that was never once afraid to be melodic and more than little infused by folk inspiration, it’s with the release of “The Star” that we see Wormwood enter the next stage in their sonic evolution. A cohesive experience that really takes into consideration the finest aspects of the band’s sound, it’s throughout the entirety of these seven tracks that Wormwood returns to us in such a form that cannot be considered any less than utterly enchanting. With loads of crescendos, sorrow, beauty, and intrinsic songwriting that’s always pulling you ever-deeper into this masterfully layered creation, “The Star” can be unassuming given its cover art, but those of us who know Wormwood are more than familiar of what’s to be found within. A real showcase of what can be done with melodic black metal when approached with real reverence, Wormwood’s dominance is only furthered in this creation.

A class act for years now, Wormwood is the epitome of Swedish death metal that refuses to stagnate. Always seeking new territory wherever their path may take them, it’s with “The Star” that Wormwood only grows their talent and repertoire in such a way that feels fascinating and downright intoxicating even after all these years.

LISTEN to “The Star” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Wormwood on Facebook here.