Stockholm, Sweden's WORMWOOD formed in 2014. A Melodic Black Metal band, they deal with themes of anti-Christianity, cosmos, aesthetics, and Nordic myths. "Ghostlands - Wounds from a Bleeding Earth" is the band's debut LP, and contains twelve tracks. The short instrumental "Gjallarhornet" leads off the album...it's mostly atmospheric, but with some horns, winds, and whispered vocals, segueing into "The Universe is Dying." A majestic guitar riff leads the charge...for death and honor!  Folky elements fuse with the Black Metal sound. The running guitar lines provide much of the sound as a whole, as they ring high in the breeze of a mountain peak. If INSOMNIUM ever merged with Black Metal, this might be the type of sound you would hear on this track. "Godless Serenade" is a crooning song, bubbling with emotion and grace, amidst the heavy sounds of death and bereavement. When that riff changes at the three-minute mark, it's something out of the annals of DIO. Simply wonderful!

"Oceans" is a deep track with a lot of diversity. The main riff is refined and cultured, climbing up a scale and moving with purpose. The instrumental passages stamp some melody into the song and give you pause to take in the beauty. It builds into crescendo of luminosity, like you are peering off of cliff and taking in all the colors of a sunset over tranquil waters. The enchanting "Silverdimmans Atersken" is acoustic guitars and clean female vocals. I don't know what she is singing about but it sure makes your heart ache. "Tidh Ok Odhe" leads with a fiddle and has an Irish folk sound to go along with the Blackened vocals and stalwart guitar riffs. It's one of those tracks the rides the fence sonically between despair and hope, and leaves you not being able to decide which one is more prominent. Either way it is very graceful. Doom is dialed up for "Beneath Ravens and Bones." But it's a glorious doom...the kind of fading sunlight at the twilight of the world's end that somehow gives you comfort and peace.

"What we Lost in the Mist" is a commanding song where the might and power of their Black Metal sound marries perfectly with harmonic guitar chords, quaint and beautiful instrumental passages, and the reverence of morality and integrity. The clean female vocals working overtop of the spoken Black vocals are like a woodland Sprite trying to subdue a savage beast with her charm and magic. "To Worship" closes the album, with an energetic and jovial opening riff. From there it churns with potent guitar lines and deep-seated vocals. Another wonderfully place instrumental passage delivers dignity and symmetry. What a great closing song to a very artfully crafted album. Righteousness is the summary word that comes to mind. It has that majestic quality that just makes the music seem meaningful and significant. Don't miss this album in what has truly been an outstanding year for modern Black Metal.