From Bandcamp, the band self describes as “Symphonic/melodic black metal from Manchester, UK. Influences include EMPEROR, DISSECTION, early CRADLE OF FILTH, HECATE, ENTHRONED, and ANCIENT.” The album has eight tracks, and “Invocation” is first. It’s a curious introduction…it sounds more like solemn 80’s music rather than Black Metal, and I love the liberal use of keyboards. “Servant of Fire” is next. It enters with melody in the music, and tortured screams in the vocals. The aggression of the vocals is tempered very well with their attention to melody. The clean vocals and lead breaks keep the song from falling headfirst into the abyss, and their sense of melody is very well developed. “Accursed Victory” gallops forward with the anthemic quality of Power Metall, and you can hear their army celebrating their wins as they loot village after village.

“Black Castle Walz” is firmer, and perhaps more serious, but again, the melody flows among the vocal screams and gutturals. Listen to the extended bridge section and tell me they don’t have an advanced sense of it. “Wreathing Serpent” begins with a gentle clean guitar passage that develops into a distorted riff and a good deal of power behind each note. Although the vocals try to blot out the sun, the melody keeps its warm rays alive. “Tempest” begins with clean, melodic keyboard notes that invite you inside where it is warm. Although the shadow of the phantom looms, it is unable to harm you. Clean vocals enter and the song takes a darker turn, but you are protected in the end.

The title track has strong, catchy melody out of the gate, as well as a steady drum presence. Each note of the deadly vocals provides a blackness to the album, but the band does a great job of holding it from falling into the precipice. Overall, I found the band’s use of aggression to be every bit as strong as their sense of melody, and not a lot of albums achieve that balance. Each time you may have though they were leading you into the abyss, a welcomed hand grabbed you and pulled you back. This is a Black Metal album for those who like melody in addition to fury.