HERUKA is an "Oniric Black Metal" band from Rome, Italy. Originally formed in 2000, the band took a long hiatus from 2005 to 2016, then Adranor and Nemuri Shi met and decided to revive the band. Their latest album here, titled "No Sun Dared Pass our Windows" was released in June 2020, and contains ten tracks.

"Time Collapse" leads off the album. It has a thick wall of guitars with muted production. The vocals are harrowing and the drums roll on like thunder. "No Sun Dared Pass our Windows" opens with light clean guitars and some nefarious background ambiance. Then, the Black Metal sound kicks in, with the constant kick drum echoing throughout the song. "Walking Dead Syndrome" opens with discernible bass guitar notes, and then drums, vocals and guitars come in for that wall of sound, unrelenting. The riff changes a bit here and there, providing some needed variation.

"The Eleventh Rule" is in your face from the opening notes. A thick wall of sound is present, then it settles into a groove. Some chanting comes into play, furthering that harrowing feeling. "White Coats don't Understand" opens with a full heavy and aggressive sound. Nemuri's drums never let up, and I think the kit will explode after any given song. Towards the mid-way mark, the riff changes and it becomes power and might. Some laughing provides some levity. "Unreal Consciousness" is a short instrumental, providing a needed break from the madness. Charming notes can be heard in an otherwise dark toned track.

"The United States of Insanity" is the absolute truth. As an American, I could not disagree with this song title. Spoken words lead to a heavy charge of instruments and vocals. I can't understand the vocals, but the sound rages hard and relentless. "Two Heads, One Brian" is a three-and-a-half-minute song, with a mid-tempo pace, that increases to go full bore, like a locomotive with the steam line opened to the max. "Twisted into Form" is another raging, burner of a song, with undying guitars and vocals. Again, the drummer put everything he has into his performance here. "Let no One be Saved" closes the album, with the intensity on full blast.

Overall, this was a good album that took advantage of the intense Black Metal sound, with enough variation to keep it interesting. What they really do well is rage, and as I mentioned before, the drummer plays so hard and fast that I think his arms and legs fell off at the end of the album. Take a glimpse into their world here and you will find a whirlwind ride that you don't want to get off of.