Moonlight Sorcery - Piercing Through the Frozen Eternity (EP)
Self-released
Black Metal
5 songs (24:48)
Release year: 2022
Official Bandcamp
Reviewed by Goat

Black metal from Finland is usually a must-hear, particularly when it's graced with cover art so icily beautiful, heralding back to the genre's early days. And Moonlight Sorcery are definitely a name for devotees of the old-school to check out, even if first track proper For Thy Light is Ice does start with deceptively twinkly Nightwish-esque keyboards! Fortunately a compelling thrashy riff soon kicks in and the band launch into a symphonic assault that manages to mix a raw, atmospheric-enhancing production with plenty of galloping guitarwork and an ear for a good hook. Two-thirds of the band are guitarists and it's easy to hear their influence coming through in the widdly leads which are a highlight of each song here.

Of course, it's not all about them; session drummer Tommi provides a more than solid backing battery, particularly on Ice-Veiled Spell, and vocalist Ruttomieli has a croak directly from the early nineties. Yet so often are the guitars given the highlight spot that you can't help but be absorbed, whether it's the wailing outro to said Ice-Veiled Spell or the chuggy opening to Wolven Hour, one of the most aggressive pieces on the EP with plenty of blackened thrash riffing and even a touch of old-school melodic death to it. And although the keyboards take a little more of a lead in finale Hauta-alttari, by then the atmosphere of the EP has sunken in and the backing crashing waves work well with the tinkling synths. A fantastic debut that's easy to recommend; Moonlight Sorcery are magic, indeed.

Killing Songs :
For Thy Light is Ice, Ice-Veiled Spell, Wolven Hour
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