Review by Dominik on October 21, 2025.

In the Chilean scene, during the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, metal music wasn't just noise. For the local metalheads it obviously was a form of counterculture and rebellion, something like a sonic, well-aimed kick against the system. Though local bands faced censorship and scarce resources, they managed to build a loyal and passionate fanbase and the underground flourished. Having said that, I must admit something upfront: Chile is not a country I regularly return to when searching for (new) musical gems. This may have less to do with geography and political heritage than with the deranged ferocity some South American bands like to unleash. Especially in thrash metal, it can feel as if half the continent decided that sanity is optional and some thrash acts sound like they escaped a psychiatric ward mid-song.

So when I stumbled upon an album called "No Peace – No Dawn" from a band hailing from Chile, I braced myself for the worst: another unhinged sonic mugging from the depths of the Southern Hemisphere. The kind where you wake up wondering what happened, why your ears are ringing, and who knocked over the furniture. What I got instead was… surprisingly "civilized". So civilized, in fact, that if I hadn't known better, I'd have placed Ad Finem Omnia somewhere between a cold Nordic forest and a cozy Scandinavian rehearsal bunker. And that, dear reader, is rarely a bad omen in black metal.

If there's anything I would advocate for on the band's sophomore release (yet to be announced), it's a touch more variation and dynamic range. The songs are similar in structure, quality, and impact and follow more or less the same formula: strong riffing, a touch of melancholy, some tempo shifts, and a vocalist who sounds truly possessed (in the best possible black metal way). To uncover the subtle nuances, you need to spend a little too much time with the record — which is fine if you're retired, divorced, and battling mild insomnia. For the average listener, however, this can be a challenge. But this is what I am here for, and I've already done the heavy lifting for you.

Early on, it's clear these two Chilean gentlemen have drawn their inspiration from their Scandinavian counterparts. "The Abyss" and "Solve: Route To Extinction" are the first tracks that make you nod in approval, appreciate the professional production, and keep the hope alive that the album might be much better than anticipated. In all fairness, nothing groundbreaking happens here. Black metal isn't being reinvented, but the band proves they understand what makes a good song work. The tremolo picking is crisp, the riffs icy but melodic, and the production clean enough to make your average Norwegian basement band blush. The vocalist sounds like a berserker politely losing his mind, and — crucially — some tempo changes and dynamic shifts give the songs just enough shape to avoid monotony. The main guitar riffs carry through the tracks and there's a good balance between aggression and Swedish-tinged melody. If they'd added a few more wolves howling in the background, I might have started checking flight prices to Stockholm or Oslo already.

"Doomed To Death" is another song that prevents "No Peace – No Dawn" from being "just another black metal album". It's compact, concise, and sounds more mature than one might expect from a still relatively young project. "Pitch Black" is probably the most varied song on the record. Granted, we're talking in relative terms here, so don't expect a sudden progressive odyssey that requires a flowchart to follow. But the track impresses with a memorable riff and a kind of "lightness" that nicely contrasts the underlying aggression of the rhythm section.

"Of Agony And Emptiness" is the final highlight of a solid album, executed with professional confidence. If you can accept a "I have definitely heard this before" type of release, there's a lot to enjoy here. And unlike many black metal outfits, Ad Finem Omnia wisely avoids the tired lyrical themes of Satan, hell, and fallen angels. The absence of this nonsense elevates the album further. After all, originality sometimes just has to avoid clichés with quiet dignity. And here you get a sense the band actually has something to say, or at least knows how to say it without summoning every demon in alphabetical order.

If you're searching for innovative, genre-breaking black metal, this isn't it. On the other hand, if you appreciate well-crafted, melodic, black metal played by a Chilean duo with conviction, the album "No Peace – No Dawn" is a surprisingly enjoyable listen. The guys have delivered an album that shouldn't shy away from comparisons with their European, especially Scandinavian, peers. It's familiar — sometimes a little too familiar — but it's executed with skill, heart, and a full understanding of what this subgenre requires.

Rating: 8 out of 10, because sometimes, being very good at sounding familiar is exactly what works.