DRAKONIS is a death and black metal outfit, hailing from the lands of the United Kingdom. Originally formed in 2009, they would go on to release three Eps between 2015-2017. They return to the fold with their first full-length album, "Blessed by Embers".

Right as the album begins, "Threnody", comes in swinging with a volley of purely vile black metal dominance, and bringing with it some beautiful female backing vocals. The clean sung vocals adding another element to the already intense heart-pounding sounds of DRAKONIS. There is a certain teeter-totter that DRAKONIS invokes with their sound. It is completely brutal, but angelic at times, and all of this works so well to create a purely dynamic sound. "From the Eternal" follows suit with this brutality, bringing in a more melodic death metal sound at times, but returning to capture the attention with its vile black metal sound. The angelic background vocals return to compliment the violent screams of Steve Reynolds. There is a huge appreciation for the vile vocals, that are also enunciated. There is an addition of some chanting vocals to bring you in to the fray of wanting to belt their lyrics out. With all these musical elements going on, you would think there would no room for more, but there is so much happening in this track.

The atmospheric and cultural sounds bring in another wave of beautiful depth. "Fear of the Wretched" comes in hammering with a tech-death sound, complete with backing guttural growls, and an impressive wailing guitar solo. DRAKONIS pulls no stops with this album. Just in the beginning half of the album, there is so much to unpack musically. Any fan of death and black metal will be impressed with how many musical elements are packed within one another. The title track of the album, "Blessed by Embers", brings in a more prototypical melodic black metal sound, but offers some more death metal infused tempos towards the middle of the song. There is a beautiful added piano melody, that leads into some violently exerted vocals, before adding in a small acoustic interlude. The musicianship is so calculated by DRAKONIS, and everything works together so well together. The impressive nature of this album already hit in the first half of the album, and only got stronger as the album progressed. "An Anthem of Ashes" caps off this already impressive album, with a beautiful acoustic guitar melody, that leads back into the black metal prowess that exists in the entirety of the album. The chanting vocals make their return to usher us back into singing along with the brutal black metal volition.  Bringing the sound of DRAKONIS to a beautiful and melodious end.

There is nothing boring, predictable, or juvenile about the sound of DRAKONIS. Their style of extreme metal borrows from all the best parts about death and black metal, as they brand their signature sound with a musical and vocal excellence. There is a deep level of care that went into building this completely masterful sound, as the musicianship shines in every track. "Blessed by Embers" is a triumph of a first full-length album. This album should be on everyone's radar in everyone's regular rotation.