Aeternus HEATHEN

DARK ESSENCE BERGEN’S SEASONED DEATH/BLACK METALLERS MAKE AN IMPERIOUS RETURN

Formed in 1993, Aeternus have walked a lonely path over the last 25 years, combining death and black metal long before that was deemed fashionable, or even acceptable. In fact, despite the use of corpsepaint, the band have long used the ‘dark metal’ tag to acknowledge this blend of influences and differentiate themselves from many of their Nordic countrymen. Still, 2018 is a very different place than

1998 and everything on

Heathen fits comfortably in what is now understood by the term ‘black metal’. Hugely atmospheric and carrying a definite autumnal melancholy, the sound is largely mid-paced, stripped down but never over-simplified and always loaded with powerful riffs.

The vocals and percussion are both impressive and the band are happy to go off on a tangent – most obviously some bluesy, Shining-esque breaks – which keeps things exciting.

FOR FANS OF: HADES ALMIGHTY, GEHENNA, SHINING

DAYAL PATTERSON