Review by SzejkElRopa on May 3, 2026.

When you think of the region of the Caucasus, black metal certainly doesn't come to mind. Of course, there is some scene, as there is in many countries; however, apart from Psychonaut 4 hailing from Georgia, no other band had sprung to my mind. This was until I read some reviews of the Armenian band called Ildaruni. The high-quality artwork of their latest album, "Divinum Sanguiem", also caught my attention. If I were to think of a band from a rather obscure country, I would guess that it would be an amateurish attempt to recreate the best albums from the 90s. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The first four tracks, to be precise, three plus an intro, have absolutely everything, and if the album ended on these tracks only, it would get the best score possible. After an intro, which evokes the climate very well, and doesn't sound pointless with its oriental-esque melody, the relentless attack of black metal begins. Neck-crushing, instantly memorable riffs appear everywhere, making this album run at a fast pace most of the time. For instance, the tremolo riff playing at the beginning of "The Ascension Of Kosmokrator" is nothing special on its own, but immediately sticks in your memory with its simplicity and repetitiveness. The same can be said about the opening of "Of Nomos And Flaming Flint Stone", which drops yet another guitar attack with keyboards echoing in the background. Although the way it is constructed isn't anything new, the way it is made is jaw-dropping. The guitar melodies aren't too sweet and fit well with the heavier parts of the songs, such as the middle section of "The Ascension Of Kosmokrator". Atmosphere? There is a lot of it. Apart from the aforementioned keyboards, "Of Nomos And Flaming Flint Stone" presents an eerie opening, evoking the feeling of mysticism on the album. "Forged With Glaive And Blood" starts with a bagpipe, which definitely is a big surprise regarding the distance between Armenia and Scotland. Regardless of the geographical differences, this works here surprisingly well. Although the vocals aren't extraordinary for the genre, "Forged With Glaive And Blood" also features growled, aggressive vocals in its middle section, which is heavier than the rest of the album. And lastly, the guitar solos are put here precisely, aren't out of tune, and add to the atmosphere.

So what about the rest of the album? Fortunately, the record refuses to lose its momentum. "Zurvan Akrane", "Arcane Sermon", and "Scorching Pathways To Samachi" introduce monkish, chant vocals which make this album sound like a ceremony for the god Mithra. The epic, glorious character of them is another of the album's strongest qualities. "Zurvan Akrane" also finds a place for yet another remarkable refrain and a vehement drum attack at the beginning. The album also operates with many emotions - apart from the glory, aggression, the guitar solo in "Arcane Sermon" has a touch of melancholy. One of the very few problems I have with this album is the track "Immersion Into Empyrean". I absolutely understand the concept of the song; its goal is to convey the epicness and "divine" nature of the album (Empyrean is likely akin to the Christian Heaven). Still, after five consecutive fast-paced tracks, this song doesn't necessarily fit when the black metal train has already sped up to very high speeds. In my opinion, if this song were placed as 3rd or 4th on this album, it would definitely be better.  Still, it is not a bad song; it has a good guitar solo (yet not as good as in the other songs) and a melancholic leading melody. Lastly, "Divinum Sanguinem" features female vocals and builds tension to a great end, although I feel that these vocals should have been put closer to the end.

The album, as stated before, doesn't reinvent the wheel or even try to do this, but it certainly doesn't feel overly inspired by others. There is a variety in almost every aspect - guitar riffs vary from very heavy to melodic, there are at least three types of vocals, and the additional elements, such as keyboards, bagpipes, types of openings, and interludes, make this album one of the best I have heard. Well, if I were to nitpick, I would say that "Divinum Sanguinem" needs a little bit more diverse drumwork, although this might be because they are slightly hidden behind the mix. Still, I have absolutely no major complaints. Hence, I give this album 9.6/10, because only small nuances separate this album from absolute perfection. It's a must-listen for anyone interested in black metal done right.

Rating: 9.6 out of 10

Review by Felix on December 27, 2025.

Divinum Sanguinem is the second full-length of Ildaruni, Armenia’s black metal flagship. To promise divine blood raises expectations considerably. Certainly, the group's debut was okay, but no milestone on the global scale. And now? First of all, their lead vocalist Artak is their new bass player, and a guy called Narek is responsible for the vocals now. Unusual move, but keeping the number of line-up changes as small as possible is mostly a good thing. Bands like Holy Moses forgot this rule much too soon. Anyway, we stay in Armenia, where guitarist Robert is still the main, but not the only songwriter. New vocalist Narek has contributed a few lyrics, and Mark, the second guitarist, has written three tracks. I like a clear direction, and maybe a band leader is a must-have, but there should always be room for different ideas from different minds. This can make an album better – and Divinum Sanguinem is very, very good. The only thing that surprises me is that M-A speaks of “atmospheric black metal”. It is true, the album does not lack atmosphere in any way, but it does not stand at the center of the output. Therefore, this full-length offers more or less pure black metal to me. And this means, among other things, that I agree to M-A when it says that this is no more pagan black metal. Yes, the new album is sharper and much more intense than the debut.

This is the first reason why I enjoy Divinum Sanguinem more than Beyond Unseen Gateways, but it is not the only one. The songwriting leaves an excellent impression. To be honest, it borders on perfection. It sounds as if the band has invested a lot into the creation of the material. Just count the different kinds of vocals. They add a lot of different moods to the music, although the malicious lead vocals remain in the driver's seat the whole time. Nevertheless, there are triumphant, heroic vocals, sacral-religious choirs, and pretty clean vocal moments. The whole album spreads some oriental vibrations, and bands like Melechesh have probably been an inspiration for the Armenians. The brilliant guitar work does not have the absolutely merciless and unfathomable approach of the most rigorous Melechesh songs like “Ghouls Of Nineveh”, but it makes up for this due to its excellently coherent and outstandingly impressive lines. Ildaruni’s songs take the audience by the hand and guide them through sun-burnt valleys, lonely landscapes, and deserted villages. One of their most evident strengths is their masterful management of breaks. The band is able to create a different mood from one second to the next without losing the momentum of the compositions in any way. Moreover, the dudes have written tracks which shine with a very good balance between non-conventional song patterns and pragmatic accessibility. But let’s forget the general comments and have a detailed look at the main attractions of Divinum Sanguinem. This is always a good idea, isn’t it?

Well, in the case of this full-length, it makes no sense. Why? The entire album is a highlight, and no song is at risk of being labeled as a not-superb example of Ildaruni’s work. Of course, the intro is “only” an intro, and the thoughtful sequences of the closer contribute some debatable, perhaps not totally necessary moments. But we're happy to leave such considerations to narrow-minded philistines who get upset about two blades of grass sticking up in the front yard. I can only say that this album has it all: breadth and depth, glory and despair, aggression and greatness, horror and confidence. And the full-length seems to be proud of its origin, at least in this sense that it does not copy the icy sounds from Scandinavian role models in any way. This is also thanks to the mighty, surgically precise production, which is free of the tiniest speck of dust. Better still, it brings all elements into full bloom, while vocals and instruments meet at eye level. Last but not least, there is not one single guitar line that you think you've heard a thousand times from other formations. Fresh and energetic, passionate and intense, this is how the songs burst out of the speakers. To my heart, Armenia – I did not know that you host such great metal artists. If there is a grain of justice in the music world, Divinum Sanguinem catapults Ildaruni to a top position on the global metal scene. I should know, I have successfully passed two exams in law. Finally, I know what that was good for.

Rating: 9.7 out of 10