Strap yourselves in and prepare for a rollercoaster of a theatrical kind of black metal album. After the well-received "Imperator", DØDSENGEL have returned with "Interequinox". Multi-genre behemoths can be difficult to handle at times, so I was looking forward to seeing how well the band's two captains handled their ship.

The various elements present on the album are given ample breathing room thanks to the high dynamic range. The lyrics aid in creating an atmosphere of unease, rather than focusing on misanthropy, as is the case for a lot of black metal. While the band is from Norway, they do things very differently from what one may typically imagine when thinking of "Norwegian black metal".

"Pangenetor" opens the album with faraway riffs, and chants which add an air of mystery. Kark gives an unearthly vocal performance, and his bass playing adds heft to the song. There is a quiet, melancholy section with sombre, resonant drum work courtesy of Malach Adonai, which makes an interesting contrast with the rest of the track. "Vaerens korsvei" is a mid-tempo, melancholy number, with chants that add an extra layer of mood. The stormy vocals and bubbling riffs come together to create an image of a coming storm. A slow, doomy section with powerful guttural vocals makes for an interesting musical contrast.

"Opaque" gets off to a lively start with blast beats and layered riffs. Caustic vocals adds a layer of atmosphere. This track has a classic black metal feel, yet retains a sense of theatricality which runs through the rest of the album. The band unleashes the fury on the listener with thunderous tom rolls and demonic guttural vocals. It ends on a high note with cascading riffs backing powerful semi-clean screams. "Illusions" takes an unexpected trippy turn with spacey effects on the guitars and a prominent bassline. The feel is bleak, and the high-pitched croaking vocals add to the chill. The full band unexpectedly comes thundering in hellish growls and echoing riffs. The drama is heightened with the addition of aching alto vocals, and the melancholy riffs add pathos. There's a brief quiet interlude, before the song plummets to its powerful end. "Rubedo" is another stand-out track, with a tension-building intro. The harmonized clean vocals are mesmerizing (with a touch of ALICE IN CHAINS' Jerry Cantrell, dare I say), and interesting contrasts between sludgy riffs and higher notes. The bends in the guitar solo are filled with a sadness of sorts, and the bass part underneath it adds to the emotion of the solo.

Overall, "Interequinox" is an entertaining album, and an interesting example of the diversity of sound in the genre of black metal. There were a few parts which dragged on a little, but that flaw doesn't detract too much from the strong points of the album.