Review by Jeger on November 9, 2025.

As we go on about our existence in the best way that we can: through hardships, trials of heart and tragedy, over in Finland, magick is happening. Venture with me if you will into the hallowed halls of the Finnish Black Metal Underground; into where evil, fantasy, lore and Occultism thrive. If you've experienced it, if you've really delved into this school of Black Metal, then you understand the true value of the Finnish scene and its profound impact on the genre. Some could argue that there is too much Black Metal coming out of the Underground and that it all sounds the same; like a '90's carbon copy, and it would be tough to argue back. But among the ranks, if you snoop around a bit, you'll no doubt discover a band known as White Rune. Since 2021, they've released two LPs for the nefarious Hammer of Hate Records: 2022's "Dawn Of The White Rune" and 2025's "Eventide On Aurora". The latter was released on October 31.

A gathering of the mystical kind! Of elder kin, souls of black and a proclamation of diabolical rites o'er the eve. A night of magick! Of letting go and allowing for the weaving of Satanic fantasies to shape your destiny. The time has come for true Finnish Black Metal… There's something very sacred about what we are experiencing as the moments to the intro, "Eventide", tick away to the sound of keys and synths - Dungeon Masters tinkering with their keys; grumbling curses under their breath as tombs breathe the night wind and exhale it into an acrid dioxide. For the Swordsman as he enters into Chambers forlorn, for the Devil as he parlays the souls of his spiritual lackeys and for the "Nightweaver". At a racing tempo now as the atmosphere begins to liven with suspense and as intrepid beats begin to drive forward scaling and plummeting guitar riffs. An anthem! Everything has that triumphant medieval vibe that we all love but it's darkened by a rich, crimson Satanic dye that permeates into both sound and concept. And if one were to judge this thing solely on album cover art, then forget about it… A beautifully packaged volume.

The organ is heavy during "Vampyric Dark Majesty"; bringing to mind the Vampyric stylings of their Finnish counterparts, Order of Nosferat, as the guitars and keys intertwine: melody and harmony at their finest. There was a shift in the Suomi scene back in the '90's with the emergence of projects like Azaghal and Satanic Warmaster that saw pioneering acts such as Barathrum and Archgoat take a backseat while the Second Wave of BM had its way. "Eventide On Aurora" is about as fine a representation of this particular movement's overall style as I can think of, but gleaming; gleaming with the radiance of the atmosphere and moving you into a state of awe during those chilling Sarah Jezebel Deva-heralding narrations that captivate as would story time for a youngster. Parts of the record can become overwhelming due to the intensity of tracks like "Arcane Journeys" that weigh on you with perpetual atmospheric pressure. But just when it feels like a bit much, a nice series of riffs or an expert-timed change in tempo redeems.

White Rune, White Death, Aethyrick and Sarastus… I could spat off Underground Finnish Black Metal bands all day, but I will say that the ones I just mentioned are among the best of what has become more than a thriving scene. For the Finns, BM is a matter of authenticity: endless dark nights, the bitter cold, the history, the heritage, Paganism and the heartache of the more desolate parts of the country where things like addiction and mental illness go untreated are all inspiration. And you can feel their passion in albums like "Eventide On Aurora" that only bolster Suomi's already sterling BM reputation. Nicely done.

Rating: 8 out of 10