Embraced By Darkness‘ Ex Inferis is the first full-length album by this black metal band from Groningen, active since 2013. Somewhere in 2022, they released an EP, MMXXII, and now they’ve signed once again with Non Serviam Records for its follow-up. The band consists of members who have been, or still are, active in acts such as Winter Of Sin and Gheestenland. Our colleague Remco already found himself getting wildly excited – and let’s just say, a little over-stimulated -by this band’s work. It would be surprising if I didn’t experience something similar myself, albeit without the wet trousers.
In any case, black metal rooted in the Swedish tradition goes down as smoothly for me as a sweet treat. The studio chosen to capture this furious yet delicious onslaught was Armageddon Studio, with none other than Anders Backelin (of Lord Belial, among others) at the helm. And that’s not all: they also opened a can of guest musicians to join the feast. Notably, Throllv (drums, Rimfrost), Ngldogma (vocals, Perennial Isolation), and Bloodlord (bass guitar, Lord Belial, Trident) all took part in the ritual.
No fewer than twelve dark chants await you. Three of these are short soundscapes – call them instrumental interludes -meant to set or maintain the atmosphere. The first of the three, Tenebrae, instantly raises the hairs on your arms. It’s nothing more than a frostbitten arsenal of sounds and an introduction to the first proper track, Black Mass. It’s glorious how you’re immediately grabbed by the throat with a barrage of melodic lines delivered with venom and urgency, complete with classic blast and hammerblast sections. The interplay between growls and screams adds an extra dimension to the work of these northern neighbours.
This angry, Satanic quintet then barrels ahead powerfully, yet with great dynamism, through the rest of the tracks—each with its own distinctive character. Take Death March, for example. With steaming, pounding rhythms and an air raid siren, it delivers a volley of piercing, biting riffs—and then the delightfully rolling Darkness Awaits still has to come! It’s particularly impressive how Mort alternates between these rolling drum patterns and pinpoint-precise blast beats. Black Flames Of Blasphemy and Messenger Of Satan are delightfully plagued by the same affliction.
With Ex Inferis, the first full-length from the Dutch Embraced By Darkness – whose logo, by the way, was crafted by none other than Mr. Christophe Szpajdel – we’re looking at a proverbial bullseye in the Swedish-inspired black metal target. Be aware: you won’t hear anything groundbreaking here. It’s nothing more, and certainly nothing less, than brutally hard-hitting, flawlessly tight, and solidly executed black metal. Don’t change a thing! Buy this beast on a proper physical format, of course!
Score:
85/100
Label:
Non Serviam Records, 2025
Tracklisting:
- Tenebrae
- Black Mass
- Enlightened By The Flames
- Death March
- Darkness Awaits
- Black Flames Of Blasphemy
- Diabolis
- Lord Of Darkness
- Messenger Of Satan
- Gospel Of Deception
- Punishment In Hell
- Mortuus
Line-up:
- Schmerz – Guitar
- Schrat – Guitar
- Vålnad – Bass guitar
- Mort – Drums
- Thimron – Vocals
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