Blood Red Fog's first proper album in nearly five years (2021's Vampir being an unreleased previous work) makes for intense and interesting listening from this duo. Having been in existence since 2004 the band have released seven albums to date, generally sticking to a hypnotic form of depressive black metal that effectively weaves an uneasy spell on the listener, and Marrasväet ("November people" in the band's native Finnish) follows this path with further experimental aspects making it possibly the finest Blood Red Fog release to date. Infusing their bleak blackened dirge with progressive and even psychedelic elements in the choices of keyboard melodies and ambience used, this set of four long songs ranging from eight to twenty minutes in length hold you mesmerised from the first listen.

Opener Musta maja ("The Black Lodge") starts immediately, a rolling torrent of melodic riffs atop clattering percussion, soon joined by despairing screams from vocalist BRF, setting you on edge immediately. It's curiously grandiose in effect with the soaring melodies reminiscent of early Enslaved, even as the frequent shifts in tempo and tone rarely allow the piece to settle for long. There's a strange, surreal aspect to the melodic assault, particularly after the breakdown at the five minute or so mark which leads to an almost spaghetti western vibe thanks to the strummed guitars and droning riffs, quickly swallowed by a resumption of more traditional violence thereafter. The following Elon kieltäjä ("denier of life") is even stranger immediately, keyboards echoing psychedelically in the background behind doomy melodies upfront. Acoustic interludes, creepy laughter, rockstar guitar soloing, galloping and crushing thrashiness are all present and correct, and make for an even more gripping listen.

There's not a bad track present of the four, particularly the more effects-laden Jäiset kynnet ("the frozen claws") which swirls psychedelically between moments of slow heaviness, ending with a more rock-focused gaze. Yet the twenty minute plus finale of Pohjan väen nostatus ("the rise of the north") is the monster here, not just in length. After making the most effective use of the ambient aspects of the band's sound with a slow, creepy electronic start, it builds, eventually exploding into black metal that leans towards the psychedelic in style, developing into an esoteric, melodic doom section. This leads to indulgent proggy electronica that's not unlike Tangerine Dream in style, emphasising the mystical and dreamlike aspects of Blood Red Fog and keeping with the melodic experimentation even as it gradually re-incorporates the black metal back into the picture, ending on a rushing, sped up gallop with croaking vocals fighting to be heard atop the instruments. It's an impressive end to an impressive album, quite unusual from this band as well as the scene as a whole yet very well-implemented and meaning that the album is definitely highly recommended for black metal voyagers. A strong start to the year!