Review by George Stiglic on April 17, 2025.

What makes Enter The Moonlight Gate truly exceptional isn’t just its musical craftsmanship - it’s how it transforms black metal into something eerily cinematic. This album doesn’t just sound dark; it feels like wandering through a forgotten cathedral at midnight, where every echo tells a story. The guitars here don’t merely shred - they kill. Their reverberating tones stretch like shadows across a moonlit landscape, creating an atmosphere that’s as vast as it is claustrophobic. The female vocals and flute passages aren’t mere embellishments; they’re spectral narrators guiding you through the album’s gloom. Tracks like 'Lamia' showcase this duality perfectly - where else can you hear a black metal song that’s simultaneously savage and… strangely elegant...

The mix is a masterpiece of controlled chaos. The drums hit with primal intensity, yet never drown out the subtler details - like the mournful cello in 'Forlorn In Silence', which sounds like it’s playing from the depths of a crypt. Thomas’s vocals aren’t just aggressive; they’re theatrical, shifting between guttural fury and whispered despair.

The 10-minute epic 'Realm Of A Thousand Burning Souls (Part 1)' is where the album truly transcends. It’s a journey through every shade of darkness - blast beats collapse into acoustic interludes, choral chants melt into dissonant riffs, and just when you think you’ve grasped its structure, it pulls you deeper.

This isn’t just "good for black metal" - it’s a rare example of the genre evolving without losing its soul. Accessible enough for newcomers yet layered enough to reward die-hard fans, Enter The Moonlight Gate feels like uncovering a cursed relic: beautiful, dangerous, and impossible to forget.

Rating: 10 out of 10