"Sacred rites & black magick" CD by Stormruler

The American Black Metal duo STORMRULER celebrated their breakthrough in 2021 with their debut album Under A Burning Eclipse, which received great praise. Described by Decibel Magazine as 'one of the best Black Metal albums of the year,' STORMRULER plays raw, atmospheric Black Metal infused with extravagant lyrics. At the end of 2022, the band, consisting of Jason Asberry (vocals/guitar/bass) and Jesse Schobel (drums/vocals), returns with Sacred Rites & Black Magick - with even more relentless intensity and a compelling aura.

Just like on Under A Burning Eclipse, Sacred Rites & Black Magick features sophisticated interludes between each song that build the atmosphere and add thematic intensity to the album. The opening track, 'Hymns Of The Slumbering Race,' starts with echoing acoustic guitars and introduces piercing riffs. 'Internal Fulmination Of The Grand Deceivers' showcases STORMRULER's imperial Black Metal, shining with heavy basslines and blast beats, before transitioning into an icy atmosphere crowned by smoke-filled vocals. Captivating guitars create a back-and-forth between merciless fury and outstanding leads. Similar epic songwriting, lavish lyrics, and skillful dynamics can be found in tracks like 'Entranced Within The Moon Presence,' the intricate 'In The Shaded Vlasian Forest,' and the introspective 'Along The Appian Way.' 'To Bear The Twin Faces Of The Dragon' showcases some of the most menacing sonic journeys on the 20-track album, while tracks like 'Upon Frozen Shores' weave a sonic tale of occult apocalypse with triumphant soundscapes, breakneck rhythms, and ghostly melodic passages. The standout title track, 'Sacred Rites & Black Magick,' sets the superior lyrical and musical mood of the album, highlighting how skillfully STORMRULER conjures lucid Black Metal - capable of convincing even newcomers to the genre. The closing battle opus, 'A Malice Dead & Cold,' concludes the album with some of the most threatening riffs and leads, appropriately bringing the curtain down on the band's second album. Produced, mixed, and mastered by Gabe Usery at Encapsulated Studios and featuring breathtaking artwork by Giannis Nakos of Remedy Art Design, Sacred Rites & Black Magick weaves epic tales of war, history, black magic, and sorcery beyond the boundaries of Black Metal, creating an unforgettable conceptual journey that every metal fan should experience.