For everything that has been accomplished over the years in the vast underground, there is still plenty of glory to be had in the way of harnessing what’s been done before. Oftentimes, we’re given creations that are mere shadows of what’s come before with little more than cheap rip-offs to call their own, but sometimes channeling your influences can lead to an effort that certainly feels interesting in some form or another even if its far from a fresh take. A little can go a long way in such circumstances. With its debut EP, Astral Spear does that to great effect with its brand of black metal.

It ought to go without saying that black metal has remained intensely influential in the underground as the years have piled on to the point that it’s no surprise whatsoever to see new names cropping up at a relatively consistent rate in the vein of the long-revered old school. The 90s, in particular, offer a lot of sway over much of what goes on nowadays, but it’s not terribly common to see a name come around, execute it all with real precision and know-how, and keep your attention for the whole of their performance. I wasn’t expecting too much when I sat down to investigate the cold mountains that Astral Spear calls home, but it’s after getting lost in the shadow of great mountains under a wheeling star-littered sky that I find myself pleasantly surprised. By all accounts, Astral Spear brings virtually nothing new to the table. However, it’s through cascading riffs, a solid melodic factor that’s expertly snuck into practically every minute, and an undeniable understanding of its predecessor’s craft that the passion Astral Spear holds for this corner of black metal allows them to tower above much of the competition. Astral Spear is simplistic but highly effective. Whether it’s in its haunting atmospheric passages or the ferocious riffage that Astral Spear takes far, this is a debut that houses loads of potential where many others fail to measure up in any form.

Icy and downright intriguing for what it does manage to offer without reinventing the wheel, it’s in just a 22-minute runtime that Astral Spear accomplishes much that’s deserving of plenty of speculation when it comes to any future excursions in the dark wintry realm Astral Spear holds dominion over.

“Astral Spear” releases on December 12th via Signal Rex!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “Astral Spear” on Bandcamp here, or via YouTube below.