We’ve all got our different reactions to the classification “blackened death metal.” If you’re like me, you’re wishing it was called something else. So it was a nice surprise to see Darkness Impenetrable, the fourth full-length from Embrace of Thorns, labelled by the band itself as “black metal death ritual.” When you sit down and listen to it, though, this reveals itself to be a worthy description, as across their discography black metal has been the most noticeable element. But the way the band incorporates its interesting mix of death metal helps them stand out from the pack. Let’s dive in, shall we?

We start off with a dramatic-sounding, spoken word intro that feels as though it’s been lifted from a movie, and then are airlifted directly into a tightly arranged black metal tempo, complete with the kind of searing, high-pitched growls you’d expect from black metal. “Sons of Fire & Brimstone Levitate!” offers our first glimpse of the band’s melding of death and black metal sounds, with a slower, more downtuned intro and the growled vocals right off the bat. After a short time, though, we’re back to full on black metal. Even two songs in, it’s clear why Embrace of Thorns refers to their art as “ritual;” there’s something in the pacing that as I’m listening seems befitting of a ritual—the back and forth tempos, the mix of vocal styles and the use of slower passages for impact, as we see on the title track.

I have to mention “Erect Bloodstained Totems,” as it’s about as close as you can get to Behemoth without completely stealing their sound. This is the closest to a complete journey into death that we see on the album, and the nod is very well-executed. The pained death vocals along with the brutal drums and guitars leave me with a clear album favorite here. It’s exceptional work that showcases the diversity of this band and proves they’re no one trick pony.

Another three tracks come and go in similar fashion—black metal at the forefront, with touches of death here and there—but all the while, the band is in overdrive, and quickly cementing this album as my favorite of all their output. In the end, Embrace of Thorns do a great job of showcasing sounds from both subgenres here, and Darkness Impenetrable is recommended listening for anyone who has an ear for either genre, or anyone who likes their music loud and like a buzz-saw.

-Josh

Darkness Impenetrable is available now on Nuclear War Now! Productions. For more information on Embrace of Thorns visit the band’s Facebook page.

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