Chaos Invocation – Wherever We Roam…

I’ll admit it, I didn’t see it coming that the newest Chaos Invocation record would be released by any other label than W.T.C. Productions. After four albums and a split, the band seemed to have become synonym with the musical style that the label stands for. Yet here we are, with the release of 2024’s ‘Wherever We May Roam’ on the respectable Art of Propaganda (AOP) Records.

While the recorb label may have changed, ‘Wherever We Roam…’ is in every possible way a typical Chaos Invocation album. Such is clear from the opening title track and subsequent song ‘Ideal Sodom’, which both follow closely in the footsteps of the preceding album ‘Devil, Stone and Man’. Uptempo tremolo-picking melody driven Black Metal in the Swedish vein of Watain, Dissection and older Dark Funeral is still the largest part of what Chaos Invocation offers us. At the same time, the new album isn’t exactly like its predecessor. ‘Devil, Stone and Man’ was probably the most focused and concise album to date, channeling all their creativity in an urgent manner and leaving the more meandering sections that were heard on for instance the earlier album ‘Reaping Season – Beyond Bloodshed’ aside. ‘Wherever We Roam…’ therefore feels rather like a symbiosis of both those albums, combining that sense of urgency and focus with room for juxtaposed exploration.

While direct homages to Dissection, Watain and the likes are omnipresent on their latest record, Chaos Invocation is still able to distinguish themselves. Their use of rather straightforward and highly melodic melodies and solos draped upon the frenzied clattering of drums and rhythm guitars creates a fascinating contrast between ferocity and beauty. The more varied approach pays off as well, creating another level of tension between the mesmerizing melodies and more aggressive outbursts in for instance ‘Golden Gates and Terrene Light’. Likewise, the violent pace, howling solo and dissonant elements that unite in ‘Bridges aflame’ offer a new level of sophistication to the band’s formula. Clean vocals have been a part of the band’s repertoire as well, and they’re executed better than ever before in a song like ‘Only in Darkness’. With an almost bombastic and evangelic atmosphere, this song is the deepest depth of darkness reached on the album, atmospheric with beautiful solo work and violent escalations. ‘Engravings of the Quivering Pedestal’ then closes things of in skincrawling fashion and suffocating fashion that slowly transforms into a deceptively simple melody that guides us towards the end of the album. Taking all together, outside the for me slightly too catchy recitation of the track title in ‘This World Wants Us Dead’, there are hardly any flaws to find on the album.

Gorgeous melodies and solos draped upon icecold tremolo-driven Black Metal with dynamic song structures and some esoteric clean vocals is what you can expect from ‘Wherever we Roam…’. Chaos Invocation have always managed to deliver quality and on their newest recording they yet again improve on that. A highly recommended listen if you value the fiercely dark yet beautifully fragile nature of Black Metal.