From Bandcamp, the following prophetic words describe the band/album: “Onward we journey forth through the flames beyond the gates, never to return.” The album has seven songs. “All Hope in Fire” is first. Although the opening tones are in the Death/Black Metal area, the main riff is a bit on the thrashy side. I like however how the band intermingles the three genres into their music. The sound is powerful, and harrowing. “Beyond the Gates” is another frightening offering and the background is full of various elements that thicken up the song, and the breakdown is quite strong.

“The Serpent’s Rise” is similar in scope and pacing. I like the scary sound, but the songs are starting to run together a bit, and it’s time to shake things up. “Blood on the Altar” shakes things up with a faster moving riff and blast beat drumming, and the complexities of the guitar riff are strong at first. But the song settles into another mid-tempo groover where the band uses too many open notes. “Damnation’s Black Winds” has another similar sound, and it’s clear at this point that the band intends to keep that wave riding. I would appreciate it if they took a few more chances, but the sound is decent. “Into the Abyss Once More” begins with tortured screams but falls back to the familiar too quickly.

“Pathways” closes the album. Although it is much longer, the band doesn’t push themselves out of familiar territory, and that is my biggest complaint about the album. The first couple of songs were good, but when the rest of the album was more of the same, as a listener, this just makes for a less than exciting experience. For the next album, I wish the band would push themselves more.