AZKETEM is a Black Metal band formed in Germany in 2018. This is the band’s second album, and it has eight songs. The short “Intro” is first; an introduction to what is coming. It’s fairly innocuous, until the roar of “Schwarze Schwäne” storms in. The sound is thick, and overgrown, and has that raw production value that it typical with Black Metal, and it interweaves elements of doom into the music. The music is also quite emotional, and I get a picture of a dying forest in the deep winter. “Nordtor” is another slow, thick grind, laden with feelings of hopelessness, and despair. The music is actually well composed, and Azken pays attention to details, especially with the background elements.

“Azetik Prelude” is next, and it’s very short, focusing more on the grey shades of doldrums that we all find ourselves in at times. “Azetik” is even more desperate sounding, especially with the clean vocals, done low for accentuation. The music is powerful, and it evokes images of some old man rotting away slowly in a cell, forgotten by his keepers for some time. “Maere” has a bit of a faster pace along with a sturdier backbone, but it still remains within the realm of hopelessness. The plod here seems to grow more desperate with each passing note. “Totval” is another droning display of demoralizing sounds. The clean guitar passage is actually even worse, and it’s akin to someone wandering the earth forever alone.

“Fallen Cresecent” closes the album. It’s clean, doleful, and delightfully depressing. For those who follow the cycles of the moon, the crescent moon is associated with life and death. In this case, I would associate it with more death than life. The best part about the album for me is the doom and gloom, and it is easy for the listener to get lost within. As you move towards the shadows, it is so gradual that you don’t even notice losing little bits of yourself along the way until you become one with them, and there is no going back.