After a demo and 2 fine splits with Stnzr Cult and Mavorim, Ad Mortem delivers an impressive debut via Purity Through Fire. The eight tracks offer uncompromising, melodic Black Metal and maintain a consistently intense atmosphere for 43 minutes.
With standout tracks like ‘Größer als das Leben’ and ‘Auf kalten Gräbern’, the latter featuring guest vocals by Baptist (Mavorim), you will hear turbulent tremolo riffs, powerful blast beats, and haunting vocals on ‘In Honorem Mortis’. Those elements define the sound of Ad Mortem, which, despite its clear production, retains a raw energy.
The German lyrics explore themes of transience, death, and cosmic destruction, reinforcing the album’s dark atmosphere. While its intensity is a highlight, some may critique a certain uniformity in tempo and song structure.
Nonetheless, ‘In Honorem Mortis’ is a strong debut that should appeal to fans of Mavorim or Totenwache.
