When combing through all that’s to be found throughout the dense undergrowth that metal has acquired over several decades, it’s only natural that there are legions upon legions of names out there that have largely gone unheralded. Whether it’s purely out of being strangled by obscurity or not being that active, there are always plenty of names out there that are ready to be discovered and experienced by those who put in the leg work to discover such hidden treasure. As such a name, Tauthr has bided their time in darkness to ensure that whenever they returned it would be a spectacle that demands to be experienced. With their first album in fifteen years, they’ve certainly achieved that.

Who was it that said old school black metal was dead? Even as we find ourselves constantly drowning in names that are seeking to keep the classic veins alive in whatever way they can, it remains true that there aren’t many out there that can truly embody what those eras brought to the table in a way that feels invigorating, organic, and interesting right from the beginning. As such, when a name does come around, it demands to be made known for what it achieves. Throughout the ten tracks of “Krybl”, Tauthr accomplishes this feat in such style that is a true embodiment of what old school black metal was and what it can still be in the right hands. Across every single one these tracks, it’s true that the weaponizing of misanthropy and misery through suffocating atmospheres, scathing songwriting, and gripping melody allows “Krybl” to stand out from the competition in such vicious fashion that it more than warrants an investigation by any who claim to be a connoisseur of black metal. Effortlessly, this album could have been little more than a display of riffage. Rather, Tauthr fires back from beyond the grave in stupendous fashion to show us how black metal lies in wait, choosing the right moment to strike, and offering nothing less than an overwhelming showing of power to show the world what madness the sound can still summon.

Countless times have we seen talent come out of the woodwork to show us how that can add reverence and respect through the perpetuation of the style that can seldom be given justice, and it’s the rarity of success before such a challenge that makes Tauthr’s victory here all the more fascinating. Far from the most complex work of the genre, it nevertheless knows precisely all the right moves to make in practically every instance, it’s the whole of “Krybl” that’s to be heralded as the underground marvel that it is. If it takes Tauthr another fifteen years to follow up this effort, then it may very well be worth it if it means similar results.

LISTEN to “Krybl” on Bandcamp here.

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FOLLOW Tauthr on Instagram here.