A new name on the scene is something that can be as exciting as it can be disappointing. We’re always looking for new talent that can bring something to the table that feels fresh and interesting even if it means treading much of the same ground that has already been trampled ad nauseam by those who came before. We just want something that we can really sink our teeth into, and when such a name does come around, we simply must hail the find for what it is lest it be damned to a tragic fate of obscurity. Stumbling upon the debut from Draculum, I cannot help but feel as though this act is more than worthy of having its name spread far and wide for all that it has accomplished in just its debut album.

Many times over the years have we seen magic integrated into black metal in a compelling form, but it can oftentimes feel like an art form that is on the decline. It’s something that isn’t given the center stage nearly often enough with how much potential such a concoction can have when it’s executed by musicians that go all in right from the beginning. From just the cover art and album title, I got the feeling that Draculum tapped into that largely unused energy with their debut album, “Poems of Spellcraft”, and it is absolutely fascinating to watch my suspicions not only be correct, but to see how far Draculum took it in these six enchanting tracks! Apart from the sheer fact that you can tell Draculum is having a hell of a time performing this record in every given minute, there isn’t so much as a single moment of this impeccable debut that isn’t oozing with charm, intoxicating melodies, and more than enough of an enthralling darkness to keep you constantly coming back for more. It’s a form of black metal that we rarely see pulled off in such admirable form. “Poems of Spellcraft” keeps you locked in for the entirety of its 40-minute runtime with every track having a distinct identity that’s always flirting with mysticism and the occult. Consistently drawing you further into its dense tapestry of fantastical black metal, it’s here that Draculum excels where not enough are willing to tread.

The sheer pedigree of Draculum’s members speaks to the obvious success that this record boasts, yet I stand firm in making the claim that this act ought to stand out in not just the members’ collective experience, but black metal as a whole. Draculum is far from a name that will start any sort of revolution, but if “Poems of Spellcraft” is just the beginning for what this name can do, then there’s no telling what beasts will be conjured or what sights will be opened through portals as the fairies themselves flee before the might of Draculum.

LISTEN to “Poems of Spellcraft” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Draculum on Facebook here.

FOLLOW Draculum on Instagram here.