Ancient’s previous album, ‘The Cainian Chronicle,’ surprised me after ‘Svartalvheim’ so I had high expectations for this 3rd CD, which boasts 14 tracks in 67 minutes.
Compared with the previous album there are more influences outside Black metal. After a few listens, you can also hear Gothic, Ambient soundscapes and Heavy Metal storming by. Only Aphazel and Kaiaphas remain in the line-up and are joined by Jesus Christ (a creature needs a name, right!) and Erichte. With the Vampyric/Gothic influence more present on this album, the female voice is used more frequently now. There’s also a narrative voice that sings the same lyrics as the common screams. Personally I enjoyed ‘Willothewisp’ and ‘Hecate, my love and lust’ the most and I’m not a fan of the instrumental/ritualistic track called “5” at the end of the album, which has no purpose at all if you ask me. At the end there is the Mercyful Fate cover ‘Black Funeral’.
If you enjoy some Melodic and Gothic like Black Metal, then this CD is could be not a bad choice for you, even if it’s not a high-flyer.
