"Where Shadows Rise" is a different album than previously seen in KHULL’s discography. It is an album more focused on melodic, epic and atmospheric black metal. This album is set in a dark medieval fantasy theme. It tells stories about kingdoms and landscapes lost in the universe. The album has seven songs. “Oath of War” is first. The opening tones are thick with low brass, and are both ominous and depressing. “Rise of the Dark Dragons” is a bit more within the realm of traditional Black Metal, but there are also some melodies. In this regard, it might be closer to Melodic Death Metal, but these labels are for genre purists and not fans. The song is a real banger, and the atmospheric elements enhance it.

“Son of the Shadows” also has melancholy and solemn tones sewn into the music and weaved into each passage. After the half-way mark, it slows for a bit, and then returns with a hateful vengeance. “A Kingdom Hidden Behind the Sun” has some definite Melodic Death/Black Metal qualities to it, and although the melodies are subtle, they help to enhance the band’s sound. The album just needs a little push to break through however, but I can’t put my finger on what that is. “Eternal Moonlight” is a fire lit with highly flammable accelerators as it leaves a trail of smoke behind it. Once again, subtle melodies occupy the background over top of the harsh vocals.

“Farkeng’s Curse” has a thicker Black Metal sound, mostly from the riff which represents the “wall of sound” approach that has made the genre infamous. The drums roll at lightning speed, and the harsh vocal screams reverberate in your chest. “Unholy Warrior” closes the album. It also features melancholy strings in the beginning that are sober. The brass instruments also push this sound. Overall, this was a decent album, but too many of the songs sounded similar to one another, which, if you know my writing, is a big sticking point with me as a listener and a reviewer.