“STORMING's song constructions are simple and yet elongated, making for maximal mesmerization; deceptively streamlined on the surface, those raw rudiments are hypnotically layered for shimmering effect. Thoughts of classic Moonblood and Isengard - and even Belketre and Vlad Tepes, both at their most measured, or Warloghe during their demo era - crop up often during the duration of “Celestial Clear Moonlit,” but instead of instilling a sense of deja vu, the sum atmosphere arrives at a parallel place; black metal this ancient can only come a heart burning with authenticity. Wide-open wanderlust, rustic aura, modernity rejected: behold STORMING's “Celestial Clear Moonlit.”

The album has five songs, and “Cleaved by Heaven” is first. The thing that strikes me first is the horrible production. Is it vintage? Sure it is. It is also so poorly mixed that many of the instrumental parts bleed together. You can also barely even hear the vocals. The sound is sufficiently harrowing, but a clearer production would allow the sound to flow better…it could also expose some irregularities. “Starfire” is another overly treble affair. Seriously, the production, while authentic to the FWOBM, really puts a damper on the listening experience. The song is slower, and perhaps more deliberate, swinging away from some of the unadulterated chaos and madness of the first song.

“A Life-Absorbing Path” is much shorter, but it’s an intense ride over rough terrain. The riffs are powerful and bossy and they have a towering feeling to them. “Over Horizons” begins with the howl of frigid winds of the north, seguing into another thick riff. This time, however, some of the vocals are clean, and the pacing slows so that you can make out more structure in the song. The harsh vocals that mix in bring the song back into the flames of rage. A hypnotic rhythm carries much of the song forward. “From the Heart of Breath” is the final song, and it’s another thickened song from the wall of riffs.

The information in the bio is indeed what you will find on the album. The hypnotic gaze of many of the songs does create a shimmering effect, but the production is so raw it takes away from my enjoyment. It does have peaks of intrigue, but four of the five songs also have a similar sound that is hard to distinguish.