I will probably get crucified for this,  but I really think the Finnish Black Metal scene should have garner more recognition these days. Definitely more than what it does today.Maybe it has something to do with the fact that recently more melodic bands performing othergenres have seen more success lately in Finland. But no matter the circumstances, the true spirit of bands like AERGRUS ought to be more recognizable. But what the hell do I know.

"Hymn to the Firewinged One" has a icy cold riff at the beginning, of course it has the Black Metal classic vibe, but there is definitely some frozen atmosphere being created as well. Then, after some spoken words, a blast starts to blow your ears, and although even this is more classic Black Meta, it's pretty outstanding. As I take it all in, I begin to realize that I love the voice here. I know it's not different from what I've heard before, but here, it has captivated me. Of course, that melody is helping to carry along the track is something you must keep in mind.

"Nightspirit Theosis" is even more melodic (in the Black Metal sense) than the first one. A constant drum, with constant bass lines and "the riff", mixed with some guitar bridges that almost make the soaring solo function. "Ascending Shadows" is a mid-tempo song, blending a grim and fast sounding Black Metal vibe along with more melodic elements. It has that cold atmosphere, giving you chills as the notes go by. When a song has that effect on you, it is a direct result of brilliance withing it's creative process.

Now, lets dissect "In Manus Satanas" a bit. It's a really long song for a Black Metal album, coming in at over 8 minutes. It starts with an acoustic guitar, thent evolves after merely 50 seconds (merely) into a hyper fast tempo song. That stunning, rasping guitar, the harsh voice, blasting drums, and those black metal solos, that keep getting deeper and deeper. To me probably that's the identity of each song, and probably, the identity of this band. I know that it's the identity of many bands, but as I was saying at the beginning of this review, this identity is a Finland identity, the one for which they should be more recognized.

Low moments: That's for you to decide.  I don't love the production, but it is something that I can easily overlook after hearing this album over and over again and gaining appreciation for the creation. So my advice is,  get this, now!!!