ALBUM REVIEW: Enshadowed – Stare Into The Abyss

Greek Black Metallers ENSHADOWED are back with their fourth full length album, out now via Odium Records.

Expansive riffs, thundering bass and vicious drums fire into a ravenous onslaught of masterfully concocted Black Metal darkness. There is an immediate and profoundly eerie sound to the mix which is monolithically macabre with howling vocals spewed over intoxicating instrumentals. With a similarly occult and ritualistic feeling to bands like Funeral Mist and Mgla, this is some rampaging material fuelled by a black flame of chaos and mystique. Bleak and eerie breaks entwine with visceral grooving assaults, meeting to form a spearhead of chaotic and otherworldly extremity. Certainly an impactful beginning to the record.

Diving back in to rupturing convulsions with flawless rhythmic groove and an endless artillery of exciting riffs, drum patterns and vocals, this is some magnificently well-written music that fills the air with void-lurking spirits that dwell within the darkest corners of the abyss. The sheer might of the instrumental excellence provides an impenetrable fortress of crushing soundscapes for the vocals to dance within, forming a disdainful and yet rather pleasant sounding assault. We see some dissonant flourishes to break through the riveting blastbeats gorgeously, adding even more texture to the wonderfully dark sounds.

Each piece is a hammering, meditative slice of a greater picture, forming together to create a totally immersive experience of abyssal Black Metal depravity. Glistening atmospherics and ritualistic ambience meet the viscerally unholy warfare in perfect harmony, making for a distinguished and energetic listen. Each element seems very carefully selected with no moment on the record feeling out of place, delivering a concise yet expansive approach to the music. With plenty in common with traditional and contemporary Black Metal, there is infinite potential for all Black Metal lovers to find something they are won over by on this fantastically driven record.

Enshadowed have delivered a marvellous, illuminating opus of pure Black Metal destruction with all elements of the genre utilised to full potential. Scathing assaults, resplendent atmospherics and piercing dissonance meet and are channelled through brilliant musicianship to concoct a mesmerising and infernal seven-track album of totally blissful chaos. -9/10