Once again, there’s one of those obscure bands dragging us along on a trip toward the Mediterranean region, somewhere in the early nineties. This time, however, from a rather unexpected corner: Oslo, Norway. Back in 2023, The Archfiend released a 12” titled The Miasmic Trance under the name Black Edifice via the German label Iron Bonehead Records. That same material now reappears, this time as a 7” and entirely self-released.
What this single offers is a delightful homage to the classic, primordial Black Metal of the early nineties. Think of the dark, ritualistic atmosphere of Mortuary Drape, the occult grandeur of Necromantia, and the early, still primitive phase of Samael. These are exactly the ingredients that also make bands like Forbidden Temple, Moenen, Xezbeth, Necromantic Worship and Oath of Malignancy work so damn well.
This is Black Metal that relies less on the cold Scandinavian aesthetic and instead draws inspiration from a more Mediterranean, mystical approach. Raw and unpolished, yet thoroughly steeped in darkness and esotericism. Church organ tones, glockenspiel, solemn timpani, and a suffocating atmosphere make this release feel like an obscure ceremony captured on vinyl. No modern frills, no unnecessary embellishment, just pure, archaic Black Metal that devotees can lose themselves in completely.
Two tracks and an outro, honestly, that’s all you need to get through the evening. Two tracks that flawlessly demonstrate what the most potent era of Black Metal truly sounded like. Fuck overproduction, to hell with perfect mixes and all that fancy bullshit. This breathes, this lives, this is pure and real. No polished façade, but raw emotion and genuine darkness, preserved exactly as it should be.
85/100
Black Edifice:
Bandcamp