Since last week, we all seem to know exactly where Venezuela is located in Central America. We will, however, leave the political situation in that country aside and instead turn our attention to Cthonica. The band originally came into being in 2016 under the name Okkvlt, but in 2018 decided to undergo a name change and continue as Cthonica.
Over the years, the project has gone through several transformations, the most significant of which took place in 2023. Following the departure of vocalist H.K., Cthonica was reduced to a one-man operation, with D.V. now holding full control and firmly grasping all creative reins.
With Bone Altars of the Vanished Sun, Cthonica now presents its third full-length album, further confirming the upward trajectory established earlier. Both Typhomanteia: Sacred Triarchy of Spiritual Putrefaction (2019) and Of Spiritual Contraction & Sphere Dehydration (2023) already showed clear signs of growth, in terms of both songwriting and overall production. That evolution continues here without in any way diluting the core essence of the project.
Bone Altars of the Vanished Sun remains firmly rooted in raw, relentless Black Metal with a pronounced Finnish influence: icy riffs, repetitive structures, and a suffocating atmosphere once again form the foundation. At the same time, the album sounds more focused and mature than its predecessors. The compositions are tighter, the tension arcs more carefully developed, and the production strikes a balance between filth and clarity, allowing details to surface without sacrificing primitive intensity.
On a personal note, I have to say that I hold this kind of Black Metal in high regard. I certainly don’t need to listen to it all day long, but every now and then a concentrated dose of this kind of aggression is exactly what’s needed to snap back into reality. If you, too, are curious and want to sample this Central American fruit, you can do so via the Spanish label Profaner Records, which has released Bone Altars of the Vanished Sun on cassette.
75/100