Review by SzejkElRopa on January 17, 2026.

One day, I was looking for new music because I wanted to experience more black metal. The first full album premiere on a certain channel was from a band called Fuath. After a quick check, I found out that it is a side project of Andy Marshall, the person behind Saor: a band I had tried listening to almost a year earlier, with not so appealing an effect. I turned "Amidst The Ruins" off after half an hour. With all that, I decided to give Saor a second chance, as well as discover Fuath's music. This review is about the latter band and their latest album, named simply "III".

Unlike Saor, Fuath's music doesn't try to conquer new territories with unusual instruments and sound. Here, Andy Marshall plays a more standardised version of music that can be easily classified as atmospheric black metal. And this record doesn't lack this atmosphere. Although it isn't necessarily the darkest I have ever heard, it still holds a certain amount of darkness and mysticism in it. This is thanks to the repetitive, cold tremolo riffing on which the songs are mostly based. With songs clocking in at even more than thirteen minutes, taking into account the repetition, they are surprisingly crafted so well that they do not become boring. Doing that requires a certain amount of skill, because even some of my beloved bands sometimes failed at making the whole composition equally interesting. Moreover, Fuath implements two worth mentioning slower and more atmosphere-focused moments into their songs. First of all, 'Embers Of The Fading Age' features a very mesmerising soft guitar break accompanied by aggressive drumming. Secondly, this time with less aggressive drums, 'The Sluagh' features another clean guitar break that evokes the feeling of melancholy.

I would like to write a few words about my favorite song on the album - 'Possessed By Starlight'. It is an atmospheric, but very well-crafted song, and also a headbanger. The first plus point is the heavy, especially heavy for the genre riff that appears close to the opening, after Andy finishes his rasping. After that, a fast-paced, tension-building tremolo riff emerges. It is the most catchy riff of the album, and it is also quite headbanging friendly. However, the key part is that none of the atmosphere crafted before that very song has been lost - all of this works well with the rest of the album, which, unfortunately, isn't as well-structured and memorable. Obviously, this is not a criticism of the other songs; I just want to point out how 'Possessed By Starlight' excels in this album.

On "III", although the guitars steal most of the show, there is also some usage of vocals, keyboards, and drums that is worth mentioning. As for the vocal work of Andy Marshall, it is not extraordinary for this genre; however, the fact that his rasping is quite hidden behind the wall of sound only benefits the album. It doesn't become boring at all, because his vocals appear rarely. The keyboards/synths are played subtly yet convincingly; they accompany vocals in a mystical way in 'Possessed By Starlight', as well as appear in other songs. Andy also most likely plays drums on this album, and although his work isn't groundbreaking or doesn't match the best drummers, their sound is audible and suits the album well. Lastly, though the lyrics remain a mystery, the titles suggest that this album is Gaelic-themed, with 'The Cailleach' meaning 'The Goddess Of Winter' and 'The Sluagh' meaning 'Hosts Of The Unforgiven Dead'.

While I don't think this album is a contender for an album of the year, I can say without any hesitation that Fuath's third full-length is a mesmerising and gripping journey featuring one great song and three good ones. I give this 8.5, because it didn't change my life in a significant way - it didn't hypnotise me as heavily as many albums did; however, I enjoyed most of it. Were all songs as good as 'Possessed By Starlight', this would be a real masterpiece.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review by Michael on March 23, 2026.

“Dimension: Daemonium” is the fourth studio album by Finnish Vargrav, and I have to admit that I was very excited to hear it, as this band has always been a solid constant when it comes to symphonic black metal. But can this demonic dimension live up to what the title and the very cool cover artwork promise?

First, the listener enters the gate into another dimension via a sort of Stranger Things–like intro, complete with a grim gatekeeper (is it Vecna himself?) who warns us that we are not prepared for what is to come within the next 40 minutes. Okay, maybe that’s a bit exaggerated, because what we actually get is a direct continuation of the previous albums—but at least it doesn’t disappoint.

For me, Vargrav has always been a logical evolution of Emperor’s opus magnum “In The Nightside Eclipse,” and that remains true on “Dimension: Daemonium.” Keyboards and atmosphere play a huge role in shaping the songs, resulting in a slightly ghoulish and mysterious mood that surrounds the listener while entering this strange world of Vargrav.

Vocally, a grim and evil style dominates most of the time, though here and there you’ll find some chants similar to what Emperor did after “In The Nightside Eclipse,” such as in 'Ablaze Upon The Nocturnal Realms.' Let’s hope this remains more of a progressive intermezzo rather than something that becomes a permanent feature in the future.

Tracks like 'Moonfrost Storms' or 'Bleeding Galaxies' (with a cool 'Towards The Pantheon'–style riff), just to mention a few, keep the spirit of symphonic black metal alive and show that we don’t need any Cradle Of Filth or Dimmu Borgir-style additions to get strong atmospheric music. Apart from that, the Finns feel far more authentic than their great role models. Just check the final track, 'Unveil The Enslavement Of Lunar Prophecies.' It’s a powerful, epic, almost cinematic song, and if you remember the spirit of the early ’90s, you’ll know exactly what I mean. There’s really nothing left to say after hearing that one.

The production sounds dynamic and powerful. Maybe the drums could be a bit more thunderous, but overall, this is complaining at a high level. Many great compositions have been ruined by poor sound, but here, there’s really nothing serious to criticize.

Lyric-wise, I can’t say too much about the exact themes, but judging by the titles of the seven songs plus the intro, it seems to revolve around interstellar and multidimensional concepts, inviting the listener to dive deep into a nightmarish parallel world filled with demons and otherworldly entities.

“Dimension: Daemonium” is a very entertaining trip into another realm, and if you’re still disappointed with what Emperor did on “Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk” and beyond, you will definitely find satisfaction here. It’s a lesson in symphonic black metal.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10