Interestingly enough, key members Gothmog are also central to the power metal band, Cain’s Dynasty. Personally, I pretty much hate power metal, so that particular revelation did not necessarily leave me on the edge of my seat in anticipation at what exciting musical fusion may be awaiting my ears. What business do these light dwellers have, departing their twee, flowery world of Tolkein, and interloping in black metal’s grim, hate-soaked world of, er, Tolkein? “Of course”, I think cynically, “there is an entire world of poppy symphonic black metal that is so hammy and clichéd that any power metaller could fit right in. That’s where I can put Gothmog”.

Now, having not even heard Cain’s Dynasty, you may think the above paragraph exposes me as a judgemental and narrow-minded prick of the most contemptible order. In part, you’d be wrong. Gothmog do, indeed, inhabit the more grandiose and theatrical realms of black metal. You know, the end of it that portrays the genre as if it were a funfair ghost train with a few tacky skeletons falling out of trapdoors in the ceiling, as opposed to the cavernous cathedral of blasphemy that Behexen or Funeral Mist evoke.

But I’ll be damned if they haven’t, in the process, managed to create a bizarre fusion of power and black metal that works surprisingly well. You have the best elements of the former (i.e. good, anthemic tunes) running rings around a deceptively weighty black metal sound. Listen to The Awakening of Lord Strigoi. It begins with a classic “I’ve learned a new song” bit of piano pointlessness, but quickly takes off into something really powerful. There are thundering tremolo riffs, as can be delivered by any old BM outfit, sure, but these are soaked in delightful twin lead guitar melodies that actually send a slight tingle down the spine. Well done, guys; you have exposed my premature bluster as the cynical nonsensicality that it was. Wandering Viking is another highpoint with the twin lead this time assuming a more aggressive, urgent form, indicating that the band are not lightweights.

Yes, there is no shortage of slightly cringey hamminess here. But then, if you’re not expecting that then I have bigger worries about your credulity than whether you are disappointed by this album or not. In actuality, there is certainly less than I was expecting. All in all, I am rather impressed by this intriguing and uplifting fusion of energetic melody and black metal thunder.