This is a compilation of tracks from a very passionate US black metal project known as Malacath, a volume of all of the single releases. A mixture of raw depressive black metal and mysterious and elegant dungeon synth, there’s a lot of passion and vigor behind the project and its truly on display in these tracks.
Starting with the first two tracks, Pathway to The Old Realm and Spirits From a Time Forgotten, two raw black metal assaults that are rather intense and are packed with plenty of emotion pushed behind it. The riffs are very in your face and aggressive and the drums keep a great steady beat as the vocals screech and howl in a piercing pain. A great approach and sound that really sits well with a lot of the US underground black metal bands out there. They share some similarities, both having this almost depressive and nihilistic feeling behind the tracks, especially on Spirits From a Time Forgotten as the guitars and drums almost meld together in this droning assault. Moving onto the fourth track, Souls Lost in The Eternal Vastness, a dungeon synth track, and a rather nostalgic one at that. A rather meditative track and one that kind of harkens back to Burzum’s approach. Having this nostalgic video game feeling to it, like it coming from some lost dark RPG on the Commodore 64. Either way, its a nice break before the next track, Wandering which is again another take on some Burzum worship. A slow and melodic ballad of a track, timing out at a little bit over 8 minutes, its truly a slog of a track, with a steady slow beat and some harsh guitars and vocals. Its a bit tiring, but it latter pays off with the next track Revelation of Betrayal… an aggressive and punchy track with some old school black metal feel to it. Again it is very reminiscent to Burzum, but Malacath’s own sound is certainly there within his guitar and vocal approach.
The compilation ends out with another medieval synth style track, Journey To A Glade, yet another piece that helps you relax after two harsh black metal tracks back to back. Its short and rather catchy, this was the one track that I kept finding my self coming back to over and over again. Something about the simplistic little guitar melody that is somewhat addicting to listen to. Following are two solid Ildjarn covers of Whispering Breeze and Blackened Might. They’re both solid takes on it and have their own sort of Malacath touch to it if you will. It finally ends out with an original track A Specter Of Times Lost, another Burzum worship track. Another slow and steady track that could’ve been taken off of a lost B-side of the Burzum self titled. Neither here nor there, its definitely a display of Malacath’s rather strong grasp and understanding of black metal.
All in all this was a rather solid compilation, with some decent highlights and is a great overall display of Malacath’s ability and diversity of songwriting within the black metal genre and its niches. It certainly got me interested in the project as a whole and makes me wonder what is next in line. Worth a listen if you’re obsessed with diving deep and deeper within the black metal underground rabbit hole, that’s for sure.