Where to start with an album where I had absolutely zero expectations going in? I am going to say one thing right off the bat: you should listen to this album right after you have read this review. The whole album is an experience that catapults you straight back to the 90s era of Norwegian Black Metal, especially Emperor’s masterpiece ‘In The Nightside Eclipse’. Few albums can blend an orchestral and grand feel into a genre as dark as Black Metal, but Cromlech does it. While Emperor defined that sound for a generation, Cromlech captures that same atmosphere, offering a modern experience that feels just as vital and arguably even more refined for the current era.
The first few songs are a good foundation for the album, with an instrumental intro and funky sounding synths over some really good riffs. But the latter half of the album elevates it from just another good Black Metal album to a great album; some would even call it almost perfect. The song ‘The Quiet Witness’ is a masterclass in the creation of atmosphere by using different elements to their strengths. The build-up is not too long and builds along nicely, and the kick-in of the vocals and guitars is an almost transcendent experience on the first listen. The combination of synths, orchestral elements, and choirs is done perfectly and feels so satisfying to listen to alongside the dark, driven riffs. The length of the album, being sub-40 minutes, also helps. It does not drag on and says what it wants to say in that amount of time. The songs are always new and exciting to listen to.
I feel like my words do not do it enough justice to capture it in writing. I hope that you can just read in this review that Cromlech is not a band to skip and is essential for anyone remotely interested in Atmospheric Black Metal and the wider Black Metal genre.
