A great entrance is something that we’re always looking for when it comes to scouring the underground of metal to find the names that have early promise, but it’s a sight that is of rare occurrence. It’s the dream that doesn’t often break into reality. Yet, with enough digging and patience, it’s only a matter of time before that dream manifests itself into a performance that has all the punch, intrigue, and flavor that one could ask for from a band taking its first confident steps. Astral Lore already has a few releases to its name as of now, but the arrival of its latest EP is something that’s to be respected and indicative of what we’re dealing with here.

A year is hardly any time whatsoever to get momentum going as an act, yet that doesn’t mean it’s impossible should the right circumstances be met and everything falls into place. Clearly, Astral Lore had it all come to fruition given that it was in just the year of 2024  that the Portuguese act put forth its debut, an EP, and a split that immediately put the name on the map as something to keep a close eye on for whatever was to come next. Now, with the arrival of “To Summon the Powers of Bare Earth” that we get to bear witness to Astral Lore’s unfurling power and ritualistic tendencies come full circle. Pulling off a magnificent approach to long form black metal that’s atmospheric but nonetheless forward in its power and intensity, these two tracks spread across a runtime of almost half an hour to make for a compellingly dark experience that’s as well-layered as it is surprisingly raw. It’s relatively simplistic, but Astral Lore delivers on every front! “To Summon the Powers of Bare Earth” is a true child of the underground with Astral Lore a magnificent vessel to the other side that black metal loves to try and tap into with the results to match such an enthralling concept.

If nothing else, Astral Lore proves here that its certainly apart from much of the black metal crowd, and it’s a tremendous vision from top to bottom. The raw potential that’s showcased throughout the whole of this EP is what underground hopes and dreams are made out of with its surely only being a matter of time before Astral Lore returns to us, showcasing an immense growth of power and prowess the likes of which could make one’s knees tremble.

LISTEN to “To Summon the Powers of Bare Earth” on Bandcamp here.

Astral Lore does not have any sort of social media account that I could find, so please follow the band via its Bandcamp page here to stay up to date on the bands activities.