RUNESPELL; signed via Iron Bonehead Productions, this Black Metal trio release new full-length studio record entitled: "Shores Of Nastrond" (released 11th of August, 2023) ... with a demo, split & EP under their belt, amongst 5 full-length studio records of which the new latter I am introduced to - the band in question offers an intricately designed formula on some heavy-hitting Black Metal developments in which ranges with 6 tracks and a total runtime of 47 minutes.

Opening up with this acoustic but blackened hymn; "Mirrors Of The Dead" starts off the record with rampantly rompy thuds of sturdy tightness & monolithic tempo, where these soaring shreds from Nightwolf (all on the synergetic maelstrom stability of his guitar, bass and vocal prowess) - this quintessential virtuosity on soaring rhythms surge with riveting gnarliness. As a densely distorted calamity in gnarly, amplified adrenaline fabricates a fierce firepower expertise that's primitively raw & seamlessly organic. This thumpy dexterity dynamically forges a distilled but chiselling tonality on sulphurous slabbiness that's solidly meaty whilst boisterously bouncy, bludgeoning eardrums with piercing viscerality that showcases scouring snares within the symbolic contrast in dark but ethereal enthrallment within the next rager ""Elemental Fires".

"Spectres Of War" conjures concretely gritty execution; where volatile nimbleness ramifies with throaty raspiness & guttural aggression, injecting an intense fabrication in weighty pursuits of ruthlessly pandemonic finesse in hybrid experimentation that's profusely robust for a solo performance on those instruments and pipes. Not to forget Basilysk on the pounding drums, he hammers the set with steely precision & monstrously meaty slams that's savagely sinister whilst pugnaciously salubrious yet venomous all around. A mystifying manifestation midway bludgeons heads distinctively as distinguished keyboard-like flair from Irrwycht meticulously provides this vibrantly moody vibe within the majestically foggy "Unfurled Night".

Until the penultimate titular track unearths more malignant versatilities of vehement tonalities that momentously slays with technical masquerades on utilising stompy yet rambunctious piledrives which still sound towering yet there's that demo-like aberration that's just roughly ominous & jarring, in bestial Black Metal systematic. Nothing but a rigorous vigour on somewhat melancholic oppression that strife's with strident zeal that's rather impressive for this spellbinding ritual of otherworldly but cavernous Black Metal revelation that's prominently deathly & persistently persevering with tremoring blasphemy, as the overall concluding epic "Vigirdr Fields" finishes off the record with cadaverous ghoul.

Bottom line; I am compelled to say that RUNESPELL most surely outdone themselves with "Shores Of Náströnd", for a Black Metal offering performed on 2 instruments and vocals solo - this was quite the impressive listen. However, it will not be for everyone. Worthy of spinning though should you fancy a darkened cult-esque experience that was enjoyably entertaining for evil empowering ghastliness, do check it out.