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DARKENHÖLD
Castellum

Those Opposed (2014)
Rating: 8/10

Every now and then it’s nice to have a break from what could be described a true black metal; y’know, that grim, primitive wail of dissonance that often leaves grit in the ears and silt in the throat.

And so we come to French black metallers Darkenhöld, an interesting bunch which formed back in 2008 and have since rattled out three full-length albums and been involved in a trio of split projects.

These guys offer something different at the black metal table in that they inject their black metal rasps with a strong, ancient medieval feel, thus providing some nice, subtle atmospheric passages, engaging epic melodies and the sort of imagery that’ll have me reaching for my Dungeons & Dragons paraphernalia. Before you start thinking that Darkenhöld is probably just a cheesy, costumed posse of fantasists though, think again, because although the music is diverse it still remains reasonably fleshy and is reinforced by some typically throaty gurgles courtesy of mainman Cervantes.

Castellum comes highly recommended to anyone with a taste for mid-to-late 90s black metal that was enriched by tales of magical kingdoms and folky traits. There’s something extremely artful about this ten-track affair in that the music is always catchy and engrossing, and plays wistfully with its medieval themes in that the guitars of Aldébaran are rarely extreme but effortlessly adopt that primitive guise while also toying with the idea of almost joyous, magical harmony.

This clever play is complemented by the drums of Aboth who keeps thinks solid and steely amidst the fiery gaze of Cervantes. The frontman’s tongue is vicious and yet almost caressed by the atmospheric drifts of tracks such as ‘Le Castellas du Moine Brigand’, which successfully marries folk-inspired haunting with more standard, yet always rumbling infectious black metal that is built upon a chunky guitar / drum team ethic. This in turn constructs what could be deemed a traditional metal gallop and glorious, epic rumbles such as ‘Majestic Dusk Over The Sentinels’ which oozes like some pastoral landscape of swirling mists and dew-damp glens.

For the most part this whole affair is a mid-tempo chug which is instant on the ears and only occasionally spiked by grittier segments, but there’s never a time when we aren’t left dreaming of marching armies, forgotten lands and the secrets they hold.

Aboth is an effective drum lord, supplying ever-changing backgrounds to lead those equally stirring keyboard effects through the mire, in turn allowing the vocals to sneer but never offend. The overall result is an album that sweeps you up and has all the charm of a dark fantasy novel that drips with a foggy majesty without embarking on tiresome self-indulgence.

‘Glorious Horns’ begins with a New Wave Of British Heavy Metal-styled fizz coupled with catchy keyboards, and it’s only distanced from this tradition by the rasps of Cervantes and the eventual slide into more nefarious rumbles. But throughout each and every track there are so many interesting departures and unexpected catchy assaults, and so Darkenhöld provide the perfect multi-layered, but not over-exuberant experience, hence a black metal starkness at its core but softer around the edges.

Darkenhöld’s third instalment is without doubt their best. Imagine a mix of old Enslaved and Emperor all played out on some knightly, grassy knoll and you’ll be halfway there in understanding this gallery of melodic black metal.

Neil Arnold

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