Review by Michael on April 30, 2026.

With "Teufelspakt – Perkeleen Tie" the German label Dominace Of Darkness has just released a very interesting split album by German Totensturm and Finnish Alkemisti. While Totensturm (by the way a one-man project by Abdiroth who is also active in Gottmaschine) already has released two full-length albums the Finns are more or less a blank sheet of paper with just a demo from 2024 in their discography. Kicking off with three songs by Totensturm, the listener gets to hear some really harsh black metal that reminds a lot of the Finnish scene such as Sargeist or Satanic Warmaster. Nevertheless there are also some more melodic parts to be found, especially when it comes to the vocals. Although Abdiroth voice is quite rough and guttural, the choruses are quite melodic and almost really sung. If you listen to "In Die Nacht" you will know what I mean. The second track "Ritualsuizid" is pretty much rougher and more hateful than the opener. But also here are some melodic approaches with a catchy chorus reminding of the countrymen Mavorim or all the other ones where Baptist is involved. The third track ("Valon Kuolema") is kept in Finnish and on that the sound is a little bit more unpolished and dirty.

Why is it in Finnish? Well, actually that was a very nice idea by the two bands and also something that you don't have too often on a split release. But let's quote the booklet for the reason: "The lyrics for the third and sixth tracks were written by the other band – born purely from the emotions that arose while listening to the instrumentals. They were then performed by the original vocalists, in the language of mutual connection and spirituality."

Coming to the three tracks by Alkemisti, you can clearly notice a more symphonic approach than Totensturm has. Here we have a lot of synthesizer tunes and black metal that tend to be more atmospheric and reminds (especially from the dense riffing and the vocals) of old Burzum and sometimes early Ad Hominem. The tracks aren't that super fast and on "Valaistus" we even have some quite doomy parts. The production is a little bit more muffled than Totensturm but this doesn't matter too much. "Weltenschlacht" (the track in German) also doesn't differ stylistically but actually I don't get too much from the lyrics. I really needed the booklet to understand the lyrics.

Altogether the two bands have released a cool split album with a quite innovative idea with the lyrics and if you like a lot of diversity on your black metal album, this one is really worth checking. This is pure underground stuff and should be supported for sure!

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review by Jeger on April 2, 2026.

Ukraine's Këkht Aräkh has ushered in a new era of gay Ukrainian Romantic Black Metal; spearheading a movement tailed by newcomers, Draugveil and Selvnatt, who've both released LPs this year. I'm not totally against this brand of BM. I did get a kick out of "Pale Swordsman" and "Frozen Throne" by Draugveil feat. Selvnatt is a gorgeous little number if I do say so myself and now? 2026 and the great Overseer, the Overlord of gay Romantic Black Metal, Këkht Aräkh, has decided to follow 'em up with an LP of his own, "Morning Star", released on March 27 via Sacred Bones Records.

What we have here in comparison to "Pale Swordsman" is experimentation and complexity. What "PS" lacked in imagination, "Morning Star" delivers in spades. There's still that lovely modest recording ambiance; that delicate fuzz just there in the background enriching every note, beat and chord with nice earthy textures/tones, all the while as the dense rumble of the bass and the simplicity of every hypnotic riff drives the experience forward in tracks like "Castle" - a swift and dreamlike track that rolls easily along to martial rhythms one moment, only to shift into finesse blast-beats and clean guitar passages overlain by a whispering, contemplative soliloquy. And "Lament" - fitting title for such a happy little cut. Melancholy? Dreadful! Groans and chants create a most dismal vibe. What a difference. Like night and day are "Pale Swordsman" and "Morning Star". The former - so simple and romantic, while the latter leaves you in a state of narco-like sedation and perpetual bewilderment. There's aggression, particularly during parts of "Angest", but outside of these fleeting flashes, "Morning Star" is just, well, bizarre… Awkward clean singing is literally ruining this album.

When night falls and all is tranquil, you can hear your thoughts clearly. Some beckon from the shadow, others from the past, all of them forged in suffering. Collecting the tears and digging deep into the mire of self is Crying Orc. Upturning from the existential bog a pain so perfect that it had to be realized through weird acoustic arrangements and bizarre child-sounding-like-he's-been-drugged-and-dying vocals. Annoying… "Genom Sorgen"? Skip it… This thing is just all over the place. Pick a direction and stick with it for a bit, eh?

Much time, effort and self-searching were required in order to create "Morning Star". It's a recording that no doubt means a lot to CO and that sentiment bleeds through every riff and beat, but it's just so unfocused. Like a piece of writing that needs editing but was released anyway. Just not a strong effort, despite the fact that Crying Orc put everything he had into it. There's a distinct cultural ethos to behold in "Drömsång" and "Trollsång": lyrics in native tongue, earthy and folkish. A true Black Metal album, just not the best one…

Need a little romance in your life? Some contemplative melancholy? Look no further. Balance, patience and wisdom are scarce but for anyone looking to brood or stew over whatever is making them miserable or over the one that got away, "Morning Star" is the move. If you're like me and you appreciate the effort but still feel like the world of BM could either take Romantic Black Metal or leave it and it would be of very little consequence, then you could in turn take this album or leave it. Some people will hate this album, some will love it and I doubt there will be very much going on in between. Personally, I would recommend Këkht Aräkh, Draugveil and Selvnatt to my teenaged daughter as an entryway into Black Metal…

Rating: 6 out of 10