"AKOLYTH is a fractured shard of the primeval source that lies beyond the stygian desert. To him we are nothing." The album has four songs, and "A Black Torch" is first. The production is severely muted, giving this energetic slab of aggressiveness the edge of complete darkness, and even nothingness. It slows approaching the halfway mark, and evil background vocals are added. The slow pace allows the poison of the song to soak in. The title track brings a veritable storm of darkness with it…so much, it nearly blots out the sun. The scorching pace also leaves trails of fire behind it. It slows again around the halfway mark, and eerie guitar tones are added to the mix.

"To Grow, Flourish and Conquer" begins with another aggressive dose of darkness, and that is definitely one constant on the album. There are more evil tones in the background, and they help to keep the song grounded. There is another slow down of sound, before the song regroups and comes back for more. "Without Light" is the final song on the album, and it's a beast, at just under 15 minutes of run time. It begins tentatively, with a dark atmosphere. It spends a lot of time in the shadows and avoiding the light. In this regard, it raised your sense of awareness that something is out there…waiting, but it only allows you a brief look at its horror. A hypnotic dirge develops from there, trapping you in its gaze while the creature steps forward. How does it end? Bloody.

This was a solid listening experience for me. Although the production could have been clearer, the muted qualities kept the sound in the darkness, and in the shadows, where Black Metal thrives. There is also a strong balance on the album between its inherent aggressiveness and harrowing tones of fright. Don't go into this experience with a cloudy head, because it could consume you and forever hide your body.