In recent times, black metal has seen quite the schism. Constantly being pulled from one side to the next by those seeking to perpetuate the old school unto infinity and those taking the genre to new horizons, there is a little bit for every kind of flavor in all that black metal has come to make for itself. Personally, it’s oftentimes in between the two extremes that I find some of the most interesting and dynamic black metal; material that tries something new while making sure to keep one foot planted in the lessons that have defined the genre for years. As one of the names bringing Americana into the fold of black metal, it’s with its latest creation that Dark Watcher falls in the dead center of such a spectrum with the results simply fantastic to behold.

Even years after such a sonic concept was laid forth and several bands having come around to explore its reaches, there’s still something surprising about seeing black metal and Americana brought together in a single performance. Two styles that would normally be at odds with one another, it takes a supremely deft and delicate hand to bring it all together in such a form that feels organic, nuanced, and fitting such that the combination feels beautifully natural. That’s something not many have been able to achieve, but Dark Watcher has made a name for itself doing just that, and it’s with “The Law of Bone and Sinew” that the Midwestern act has truly hit its stride. As expansive in its scope as it is captivating in its presence, there’s a certain kind of magic that’s born from the stark contrast which is born out of this sound. The spirit of the Wild West is preserved brilliantly throughout the eight tracks of “The Law of Bone and Sinew” with Dark Watcher painting an exquisite picture of the American west’s beauty as it was in the 19th century while always making room for the brutal nature of the environment that the realm came with. Laden with the mythology and grandeur that has long been romanticized by the modern era, there is no gloss nor shiny exterior to what is laid forth here. Melodic and sprawling but always concise and intense for whatever image it paints, it’s in every offering here that Dark Watcher offers us a vision of a hard life, a mesmerizing land, and the spirit of those who sought manifest destiny whether it be in settling a new life for their families or leaving their mark upon history through blood and dastardly deeds. All have a place in “The Law of Bone and Sinew”.

This is a creation that takes an unlikely union and transforms it into a dichotomy that feels downright natural. Black metal and Americana have become increasingly intertwined over the years with a solid array of names coming out of the woodwork to show us what the sound can become. Dark Watcher more than earns a place at the forefront of that conversation. For all that’s delivered throughout “The Law of Bone and Sinew”, it demands to be said that Dark Watcher went all-in and came out with a captivating experience that is sure to scratch the itch that only this niche genre can execute in such magnificent fashion.

LISTEN to “The Law of Bone and Sinew” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Dark Watcher on Facebook here.