Much as is the case with death metal in its current form, black metal is perpetually in a state of revering its older years. From its many different waves to the cold efficiency of it all, the old school of black metal is still very much so a monster that cannot be easily put down for too long given how infectious and dominating it can be in the right hands. Success, of course, varies from one creation to the next depending on who you’re asking, but there is a man whose experience has not put him right into the path those of yesteryear also travelled. With its third album, Auriferous Flame continues where its previous creation left off.

Given the vast breadth of experience that the mastermind behind Auriferous Flame has amassed for himself over several years of genre-defining black metal in many different styles, it was an incredibly odd but welcome breath of fair air to see the man tackle old school black metal when Auriferous Flame came around with time clearly only adding more and more flavor to such a concept that was already exceedingly promising in the first place. Picking up exactly where the act left off, it’s within every given moment of “The Insurrectionists and the Caretakers” that we bear witness to Auriferous Flame well and truly coming into a caliber that defies doubt and spits in the faces of those who would taint the original vision of what black metal can be and always has been. A masterful and straightforward approach in just three tracks across a surprising runtime of thirty minutes to make this black metal with real stamina and lasting power, “The Insurrectionists and the Caretakers” takes on a spirit that incredibly few others in this particular style are able to bring forward. Constantly steeped in the old school approach and execution yet always ensuring that the personal flavors and deep nuances shine through in practically every given instance to ensure that this performance stands out from the crowd in damn near every way.

It feels only natural that such a force of nature in the world of black metal would be able to weave its way in and out of the different styles of black metal with the old school being done more than enough justice here as Auriferous Flame only becomes more proficient wielding this particular sword as time goes on. Surprising in more ways than one and always putting forth a damn good time on all fronts, “The Insurrectionists and the Caretakers” is simply a need-to-know album for anyone who claims to be a student of the old ways of black metal.

LISTEN to “The Insurrectionists and the Caretakers” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Auriferous Flame on Facebook here.