In the 90s, during the rise of the Second Wave of Black Metal bands, a conception arose: the fusion of classic outfit of the genre with somber keyboards and ambiences, what came to be known as Atmospheric Black Metal - besides many fans of those days never cared about such name. Today, even when things seem to be far from it, one or other band revives the genre, as the North American act AZATHOTH’S DREAM does on its third full-length, “Solitary Forest Necromancy”.

The sonority - as could be expected after the words above - is putrid and crude, a way to boost the funereal appeal of the songs. It’s clear in some moments things sound fuzzy and barely understandable, but’s not a problem to fans of old days of Black Metal. It’s something usual for USA Black Metal bands.

The band uses an Old School Atmospheric Black Metal approach on its music, combining fast tempos and snarling shrieks with dense and morbid ambiences created by the keyboards. It’s obvious that the band isn’t playing on a ‘one-breath-way’, because there are slow songs (as on some parts of the sinister “Coven of the Ancient Black Flame”), but the band relies on a musical path full of crude and funereal energy and charming darkened melodies. And it’s truly good.

Black Metal fans from the 90s will love to dare with these 10 songs, because “Malefic Spellcraft”, “Death Denied”, “Ancient Black Blood”, “Solitary Forest Necromancy”, “Malevolence Enshrined”, “Coven of the Ancient Black Flame”, “Exsanguinated and Impaled”, “Heed the Call”, “Under Cover of Night” and “Beyond the Veil of This Reality”, because the spirit of the old days lives on the band’s music (without sounding artificial or ‘forced’ in any way). And be prepared, because their music is really excellent.

“Solitary Forest Necromancy” is a very good release, but one tip to AZATHOTH’S DREAM: sounding lo fi isn’t a problem, but you really deserve a best sound quality.