Every now and then, a genre is given a band is that nothing short of a true embodiment of what that sound can become in the right hands. It’s far from a commonplace occurrence with all manner of talent coming and going before such a name rears its head to show us what it’s made of, but when they make their impact, it’s damn difficult to turn away from such grandeur. When Olhava first came around ten years ago, I don’t think any of us were ready for what would happen next within the vast confines of atmospheric black metal. Now, with its sixth full-length effort, Olhava’s brand of dark majesty lingers in the silence of the aftermath and the renewal that has yet to come.

Atmospheric black metal is a fascinating sound to me. Almost contradicting some of the core foundations of what black metal, it’s when the genre takes on a more atmospheric form that we can begin to approach a completely different side of black metal where even the smallest moments can have the largest impact. Where the soul yearns for peace as much as it holds great power born out of frustration, rage, misanthropy, or whatever else one can harness when met with the perpetuate migraine that is mankind. However, after all the madness and the burning, there is a stillness. Throughout “Memorial”, it’s in that very stillness which Olhava stands unwavering. Holding firm on an ash laden hillside that has been burnt almost beyond recognition, it’s where the soot and smoke gives way to fertile soil, the potential for life anew, that “Memorial” hits the hardest. Strife comes at a cost, oftentimes greater than we would care to admit, but it’s through a masterful understanding of the sound that Olhava makes the whole process seem so gorgeous, something majestic that’s downright tear-inducing at times. The black metal on display is no less than masterful, yet it’s in the somber peace in between that Olhava’s impact is taken to the absolute maximum.

Effective on all fronts, the rippling effect of Olhava on the whole of atmospheric black metal is not something that should be understated. Embodying only the finest aspects of what this sound can be when its extrapolated and taken to great lengths to ensure that both body and soul are touched by what’s been achieved, “Memorial” never once misses its mark.

“Memorial” releases on February 27th via Avantgarde Music!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “Memorial” on Bandcamp here.

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