Black Metal is not just blast beats and tremolo-picked guitars. In fact, it does not have to have those things at all. Black Metal is a sonic celebration of darkness. The darkness is what matters, not the blast beats. Canada’s Egregore understands this. On It Echoes The Wild (20 Buck Spin), they hit you with a tempestuous blend of heavy darkness.

 One of this album’s strengths is that they show vocals should not be an afterthought. The band draws from influences that go beyond Black Metal, with Thrash hooks in the guitar riffs. It also carries the aggression of Death Metal in the way it hits. It almost sounds like an album from the early nineties in this regard, and the production helps solidify this aspect. It’s not underproduced like an old Mayhem album, but it sounds more organic than most of the stuff coming out these days. They capture atmosphere without having to be “post” anything. 

“Stair Into The Votex” is not just a clever title, but a ferocious attack that finds them connecting with Possessed-era Metal. Even as they bite you face off with the jagged riffs, the hooks make the more reckless elements easier to digest, as they already gave you a dynamic contrast.”Craven Acts Of Desperate Men” finds “Show No Mercy”-era Slayer colliding with early Deicide. They are students of this era of Metal and use this inspiration to form something that is convincing. There are some Mercyful Fate winks with the falsetto vocals not nailing the pitch that King Diamond does.

They keep up the thrashing speed for “From The Yawning Cravasse,” though they slow down at the chorus to create more memorable dynamics. Darker, more melodic elements catch up with the razor riffs. At under two minutes, a mighty chug largely empowers “Cosairs of the Daath Gulf.” 

The momentum begins to carry them away when it gets to “Nightmare Cartographer.” This touches on Death Metal stylings and is propelled into “Six Door Guard the Original Knowledge,” which has some pretty cool “Kill ’em All”-like riffs

The ten-minute title track closes the album. It winds around and finds guitar solos in more abundance. There are enough solid moments to keep it interesting. If you grew up listening to this sort of thing, the first time it clawed its way up from Hell in the eighties, then you might not be as impressed as a kid who never heard of Possessed, but even then, it tugs on nostalgia and infects you with its capable songwriting chops showcased here. If you like first-wave Black Metal, then this is a very accurate portrayal that captures the needed elements while making them their own.

Buy the album here:
https://linktr.ee/egregore137

8 / 10
WIL CIFER
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