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STORMKEEP “The Nocturnes Of Iswylm”
STORMKEEP “The Nocturnes Of Iswylm”
By Lord Randall
While there is a Denver sound – make no mistake about it; from the twang ‘n’ travail of early 16 HORSEPOWER to the tent revival atmosphere of SLIM CESSNA’S AUTO CLUB, to the prairie-wide expansiveness of those first several ACROSS TUNDRAS albums to the Western noir of WAYFARER – the “sound” has always been more beholden to an ancient land, olden times, a sense of exploration of the soul and world itself that is truly of its surroundings than to genre convention. In this realm, the symphonic black metal of STORMKEEP may seem out of place, at least on the surface.
Picking up where 2021’s “Tales Of Othertime” left off, “The Nocturnes Of Iswylm” returns us to the universe created there, “The Taste Of Immortal Blood” our portal. Synths reminiscent of ANCIENT at its most ethereal soon give way to maelstrom, keys jabbing like daggers, riffs like katana, a low end surprisingly substantial within the style, and over it all that blend of snarl and clean background choruses that let the ears know there’s more going on here than just “black metal with keyboards”. “Saccharine Subjugation” is fury in sonic form at one moment, a persistent mid-paced riff grinder the next, the drumwork of founding multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Otheyn Vermithrax sitting side by side with the likes of HELLHAMMER and FROST insofar as quality musicianship. After the final verse, hyper-melodic yet pained, raw solo work carries the tune to its close.
Initially at a slower churn than what’s come before, “Echoes In The Vasts Of Sequestration” continues the world-building, regal synths ebbing and flowing under a pale, cold moon, arpeggios and galloping bass riding the waves, the bridge from 3:12-3:32 granting just enough reprieve, the feeling of a roller coaster ascending only to reach the pinnacle and realize the track has disappeared, yet impossible to stop the plunge.
An album such as this has no option except to pour every element of what’s come before into its final track, and “Ballad Of A Fallen Star” rises to the challenge impeccably, STORMKEEP moving at its own decided, measured pace over the 9+ minutes. After an ambient introductory movement, a confident stride arrives, the underrated “Between Two Worlds” album by I and the BATHORY albums that’ve clearly been an influence being conjured forth into memory – and yet the quartet boldly is at work carving its own name in the stones of its forebearers. From majestic flourish to acoustic interludes, to frigid winter storm, it’s all here. Fall into dreamland, into “The Nocturnes Of Iswylm”.
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