Review by Jeger on March 15, 2026.

Black Metal is the exploration of chaos and hatred, of darkness and of our innermost humanity. And while the masses scramble to grab their copy of the new Blackbraid EP, over in Belgium there stalks a new terror in the form of Erbeet Azhak - a solo venture masterminded by one CVB (Aerdryk, Cult of Erinyes) whose vision for BM is one that jives with the above-mentioned realms of exploration. True Black Metal that has been created with no material purpose other than to spread evil.

Black Metal can also be considered as a means toward total transcendence and enlightenment through agony; a soundtrack to your own transformation or deterioration, whichever path you happen to find yourself treading. For Erbeet Azhak, the realization of genre-defining Black Metal appears to be the modus operandi - essentially functional - beholden to no man or group of men, only albums like their debut LP, "Only The Vile Will Remain", that spit in the face of conformity but also of radicalism. Somewhere tucked away between the two is where you'll find it in all of its true BM reverence. True but also not of the basement variety. Within "Only The Vile Will Remain", you'll discover "The Wings of Liberation" in all of its Sargeist-reveling magnificence and "Lecherous Angels" - a highly aggressive, early Watain-heralding cut. These tracks are light years apart from one another in regard to style yet they commingle nicely together within the scape of the album's established essence.

The genre is thirsty for albums like "Only The Vile Will Remain"; Black Metal records that don't merely homage the Second Wave by being nothing more than cookie-cutter variety throwbacks, but instead a proper representative entity that casts Black Metal in a genuine light with the titular track to ease you into a still, steaming hot compositional bath. Just soaking up every rich, martially rhythmic passage, every divine melody and basking in the trueness of it all. The quintessential BM experience? You could sum it up that way and few would argue. Nothing fancy, just the beautiful controlled chaos of expertly executed Black Metal.

If you get it, you get it. So many Artists/Collectives aim for this and never get it right, because it is not something that is learned. It is not something that is forced or rushed. A man's understanding of Black Metal is a natural occurrence that is developed organically and is realized once he listens to BM for the first time and feels like he has found his home. And "Only The Vile Will Remain" is the album for such a divine reckoning. Take notes, kids, because this is true Black Metal through and through.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Review by J.C. on March 6, 2026.

This is the first time I've heard of this Swedish melodic death metal band. I haven't heard much new material from Sweden in a long time, so before listening, my impression of Swedish melodic death metal was still based on the original Gothenburg Sound or slightly later bands like Still I Wither and Enterion, and the latter left a deep impression on me with their 2019 album, "Ad Inferos". But this new Norrsköld album surprised me.

The whole album is less than 30 minutes long; although it is a bit short, it avoids unnecessary lengthy sections, and the remainder is almost perfect. The lead singer's voice is excellent; most of the time, you will hear a piercing scream, like a sharp sword, but sometimes he switches to a deeper growl. Occasionally, here also exists a clear voice or a spoken word. The guitar work is fantastic, which is also what I appreciate, and I've always had a high opinion of bands with good guitarists. Although a Swedish band, the guitarist drew heavily from Finnish metal; some stunning electric guitar shred details sound like Children Of Bodom, and some rhythmically unique and tense riffs reminded me of Insomnium's performance in the song 'Change Of Heart,' which kind of riffs added ferocity to the music but also had a smooth melodic line. In some dark passages, the guitar becomes as cold as Norwegian black metal. In other moments when the electric guitar pauses, the Viking-metal-styled acoustic guitar interprets the tragic beauty. And there are also riffs that are more modern, with the taste of alternative metal, groove metal, and even metalcore, but they do not destroy the harmony of the music. There are almost no keyboards, but I like it, which shows that there is no need to cover up the lack of arrangement with additional embellishments. The drums are nothing special, but they get the job done. The bass adds weight to the music, which becomes noticeable in some passages where the electric guitar pauses.

There are many albums where the second track tends to be the best track of the entire album, and this album is no exception. The ordinary prelude at the beginning of 'Mourningstar' might make you question whether it lives up to its poetic title, but the smooth, beautiful melody and strong emotions that follow feel like a cleansing wave washing over you. The beautiful acoustic guitar in the back takes over the temporarily stopped electric guitar and plays the last motive before the electric guitar stops with a Harakiri-For-The-Sky-style soft acoustic guitar, and finally, a gorgeous melodic shred appears with Alexi Laiho's feeling. Also noteworthy is the song 'Regenesis,' which begins with a black metal passage, later followed by abundant, well-crafted melodies and many exquisite riffs. The only song with a Swedish title, 'Dødsdansen,' is an instrumental track, being short but filled with full paragraph changes and emotional ups and downs, and the melody is also the most beautiful of this album.

In short, this is a solid Swedish melodic death metal album. It does not have progressive or avant-garde innovations, but it builds on the strengths of its predecessors and delivers a well-crafted musical experience. I look forward to more great work from this band.

Rating: 8.9 out of 10