The fact that swords and bows are still relevant in 2026 is proven by Stormkeep’s promo photo. Because how incredibly ‘true’ are these metallers from Denver?! The album cover shoves two badly drawn tits in your face. It feels like being raped. This entity of symphonic black metal first reached my ears with Tales of Othertime in 2021. On paper, everything checked out. An American Emperor wannabe with dungeon synth influences. I was practically drooling. Still, the band failed to deliver. The tracks lacked catchy riffs and buildup toward momentum and proper payoff.
With The Nocturnes Of Iswylm, the band gets another shot. Will Stormkeep live up to its ambitions this time? According to the included promo, we should not expect anything new. Stormkeep will continue down the beaten path. The band itself says: “Stormkeep began as a stronghold for individuals who sought to carry the flame of a lost age.” Let’s just hope the music sounds less silly.
The opening track,The Taste of Immortal Blood, starts in a very chaotic way and does not really seem to have a clear point. Eventually, the band turns it into a strong chorus and convincing clean vocals. It is clearly the strongest song on the album. Why this track lasts about seven minutes remains unclear. Too many unnecessary passages, too little sharpness, that is how I would describe it. It also lacks the orchestral element, and we get a more stripped-down sound. Quite a change compared to the previous album.
Like the first track, The Black Dragons of Iswylm is also not very convincing. After an initial opening and buildup, the track loses direction. A guitar solo goes nowhere, and the keyboardist hesitates over whether or not to take over the solo. That does not happen, and the track seems to build up all over again. A melodic passage at the end of the track offers some relief from the built-up tension. It ends with some more chaotic afterwork from the guitar and drums. The idea is there, but the threat never really is. Every section seems to have already had its own resolution.
Saccharine Subjugation goes even further. After about a minute and a half, a solo comes in. The drumming frames the passages with decisive snare shots. Because of that, it lacks a smooth transition. The guitar lines suffer from the same problem. Let me say something positive: those parts are quite interesting and varied on their own, and at a good level in terms of instrumental control.
Imperious Sanguine Eroticism is the ballad on the record. But even here, Otheyn Vermithrax does not seem to know how to carry himself in the drumming. He throws in embellishments and changing rhythms. Isn’t a prog band a better fit for him? The vocals, on the other hand, do appeal. The vocal delivery is varied and convincing.
I brace myself for Echoes in the Vasts of Sequestration. Will it once again be a chaotic collection of incoherent parts? Yes. Why not make grindcore if you like stop&go so much? But note: the bass work is class. Maybe a bit too enthusiastically highlighted in a kind of bass solo, but this is a welcome surprise.
Then there is Carnal Tapestries of Nailtorn Flesh. Jesus Christ, that is a very heavy metal title for a track! Straight out of the black-metal title generator, but damn, it is brutal! After two minutes of buildup, there is finally a line in a track. Unfortunately, yes, unfortunately, the band fails to bring the track to a resolution.
The closer, Ballad Of A Fallen Star, offers more of the same. A symphonic intro and a purposeful start cannot prevent the track from drying up. The clean vocals heighten the drama and the recurring chorus is epic. The lyrical element is strong, with appealing fantasy-related themes.
Why does Stormkeep persistently refuse to give the listener their well-earned satisfaction? The tracks meander along, build up tension, but you go home empty-handed. Why does Stormkeep not finish the job? Just one last stroke… The atmosphere keeps changing within the songs, which means I never really get into them. As if the writer keeps getting swept away in his fantasy without keeping an eye on the outside world. Stormkeep is a band with more potential than this. The album is a mix of strong ideas and weaker ideas, but above all it suffers from a lack of structure and consistency within the tracks. The Nocturnes Of Iswylm drifts from start to finish, but once again convinces too little.
Score:
60/100
Label:
Vesperian, 2026
Tracklisting:
1. The Taste Of Immortal Blood
2. The Black Dragons Of Iswylm
3. Saccharine Subjugation
4. Imperious Sanguine Eroticism
5. Echoes In The Vasts Of Sequestration
6. Carnal Tapestries Of Nailtorn Flesh
7. Ballad Of A Fallen Sta
Line-up:
- Otheyn Vermithrax – Vocals, Gitaar, Keyboards, Drums
- Apokteino – Gitaar
- Nebula Husk – Basgitaar
- Lord Dahthar – Keyboards
Links: