APHELIUM AETERNUM is a black metal band from Germany that formed in 1995. In 2023, they finally released a demo but now their full length debut, “Dark Interstellar Mysterious” is here to provide their brand of blackened fury. In my research of this band, I read a couple places that called them symphonic black metal. While this is certainly one of the ways they could be described, it doesn’t tell the whole dynamic of their sound. Countless key/symphony based bands (black metal or otherwise) let the orchestral elements take over and everything else becomes more like an afterthought.

This is definitely not the case with “Dark Interstellar Mysterious.” Although it is filled to the brim with sweeping, majestic keys, it also still very much riff based. The symphonic textures are used as just another instrument and don’t take over the music. I very much prefer it this way because it still allows the band to be raw and powerful like black metal should be. The album opens with the instrumental intro “The Stargate Opens” and it’s actually worth listening to and sets up the mood of the album.

The title track comes next and opens with an immediate and powerful bang. The drums are torpedoes that drive the song ahead on full blast. The keys have depth, adding texture that work exceptionally well along the blackened riffs. The vocals are exactly what you expect, and want, for the style. This song, and the album as a whole, is all about balance. There are many places where the keys hang back and let the metal aspects shine through and vice versa. The quiet part near the last quarter of the song is a nice reprieve and doesn’t take away from the song’s atmosphere.

“Voidganger” is a blazing song with otherworldly keys. The growl near the beginning pierces through the wall of music just before the song goes full bore. This is a massive song with an encompassing sound. This is probably the best example of how well the album balances symphonics, atmosphere, and aggression. “Into The Timeless Abyss” is another banger that presents the guitars and keys working in tandem to create this dark musical void. The keys and drums compliment each other as well, each going as hard as the other. The deadly energy of this one is infectious, especially when the keys settle into an epic groove.

Before the outro there is one final song and that is “Dead Eyes Stare Into The Nightsky.” This one is creepy and lurking in its opening moments but soon becomes much more aggressive while the keys get more grandiose. A fitting end in for the album! All in all APHELIUM AETERNUM’s “Dark Interstellar Mysterious” is an album that effectively combines symphonics with metal elements without sacrificing either.