CORRODING SOUL is the Atmospheric Black Metal project from David Lovejoy. Hailing from the UK, this is his debut album, and it has four songs. “Shadow” is first, and opening tones are soothing and calm. Aggressive Black Metal tones follow with incensed screams, but the beautiful melodies remain like a beacon, shining light in a black abyss. Let the warm melodies flow through you, because they are gorgeous. From there, the two opposing styles are locked in a mortal battle, with peaks of victory in each of their grasps, but none of them come out on top. This song is very well composed and the melodies flow with ease, nothing seems forced here at all. “Tempest” is another song where the firm, contentious Black Metal elements are tempered so nicely with melody. The spine of the song is as unbreakable as they come, but the tissues, organs, and skin are filled with the wonder that makes us all human. Listen to the bass work in particular.

“Bound” features a melody line so strong from lead guitars, it makes your heart ache. This kind of balance is very hard to achieve, and I am loving what I am hearing here so far. The leads sing, as if they had a voice, and they take you to places you have never been to before. These places are colorfully lit, warm, and safe, and you can almost tune out the aggressive Black Metal screams that rage just outside.  “Sapphire” closes the album. In modern lore, a sapphire represents wisdom, virtue, good fortune, and faithfulness, and you will find all of these elements in this song. A hurricane rages just over the horizon, headed your way at lightning speeds, but you are enjoying the peace. For just a few moments, the suspense of what is to come is wiped clean from your memory, and you are just living in the moment.

In a genre often characterized by its raw aggression and relentless intensity, this album manages to strike a rare and delicate balance between the punishing ferocity of black metal and an almost celestial sense of melody. Beneath the tempest lies an intricate web of lush harmonies and sweeping, emotive passages. What truly elevates this album, however, is its ability to maintain its emotional weight throughout. Even in its most melodious moments, there’s a simmering undercurrent of tension and despair, a reminder of the genre's uncompromising roots. It’s an exhilarating, transformative experience that proves melody and aggression can coexist in perfect harmony.