The unholy ascension of Swedish black metal icons Watain continues through the darkest depths of the majestic seventh studio album “The Agony & Ecstasy of Watain”.
Within the oppressive darkened realm of “Ecstasies In Night Infinite” visceral riffage and feverish drum blasts begin an unstoppable wild hunt through a twisted rhythmic maze adorned by the charismatic guitar leads.
The perilous journey continues with “The Howling” revolving around a primordial blackened force that successfully acquires addictive groovy black ‘n roll dynamics through the frostbitten guitar riffs and the tormented melodic licks.
The slightly slower tempo and the atmospheric gloom of “Serimosa” emphasize an ancestral spiritual essence as guitars have the chance to meticulously craft hypnotizing lugubrious melodic tapestries within a malignant rhythmic ensemble.
A decadent melodic flair lingers throughout “Before The Cataclysm” as guitars effortlessly shift from sheer brutality to intricate bewitching harmonies inevitably conveying tumultuous feelings and amplifying a fascinating dramatic depth.
A mysterious aura surrounds “We Remain” as extraordinaire guest vocalist Farida Lemouchi (Ex The Devil’s Blood, now in Molasses) delivers a spellbinding performance emphasizing the arcane power of the refined melodic guitar work reaching the acme with a cathartic solo.
“Septentrion” triumphantly follows an ominous blackened pathway as the malevolent growls express immense fury and the relentless guitar riffs diligently create monolithic rhythmic patterns enriched by exquisite sinister melodic phrases.
With a 25 year long career Watain aim to reach the equilibrium between sublime melodies and endless darkness while conjuring an intense black metal magic that will leave you shattered wandering through the gelid grooves of “The Agony & Ecstasy of Watain”.