When we’re discussing bands on the rise who have made an impact in their respective scenes and constantly manage to keep us coming back from more, it would be rude of us to leave out even a single name despite how overwhelming the number of such acts may be. Having already made a name for themselves before their last album, Vahrzaw more than deserve a spot on that inclusive list given all that they’ve accomplished since their first full-length album after a somewhat brief hiatus with 2021’s “The Trembling Voices of Conquered Men” cemented the band’s cult status. As if there was doubt about the band’s power and initiative for domination, it is with their upcoming fifth full-length album that we see the tenacity and breadth of Vahrzaw’s power in total, undeniable swing.
It seems to often be the case in the current state of the underground that when we’re dealing with bands that specialize in the crossing of the realms of death and black metal, only one lane is taken by the bands in question even if that path is an impressive blending of the two sounds. To see an act hop across that line from one release to the next, keep it interesting, and constantly make it a sight to behold in virtually every aspect is to come across quite an exception of which Vahrzaw effortlessly qualifies as such. Shedding off some of their death metal tendencies for a performance that certainly leans further into their black metal ideals while never fully making that transition, the seven tracks of this album provide us with another glimpse into the genius behind Vahrzaw. Containing some of the longer tracks that we’ve seen from Vahrzaw to date, “In the Shallows of a Starlit Lake” is a downright entrancing creation which Vahrzaw masterfully weaves their way through their capacity to eviscerate the listener with their scathing riffs and ever-vicious power that’s never lacking while simultaneously painting gorgeous pictures for the mind’s eye be it along the shores of the titular lake, down paths of old streets dimly lit, or simply before a faceless behemoth whose very presence is crushing in every aspect. It all makes for a vicious transition from what many of us came to recognize from this band not even two years ago with this a vicious shift in a different direction that I don’t think many of us could have predicted, and to say that Vahrzaw has achieved anything short of an unmitigated success with “In the Shallows of a Starlit Lake” would a downright insult upon the vision, talent, and capacity that Vahrzaw has held since day one.
Such a change in style that we see here with Vahrzaw is of the sort that many have tried with few being able to accomplish it as adeptly or swiftly as what we are able to observe here with the very power of this act evermore cemented in the consciousness of those lucky enough to stand before it. The new year didn’t need any further help is starting off on a tremendous foot for all that extreme metal has to offer, but the addition of “In the Shallows of a Starlit Lake” makes for a supreme icing on that cake which I didn’t know I needed so dearly.
“In the Shallows of a Starlit Lake” releases on January 28th via Bitter Loss Records!
LISTEN to advanced tracks from “In the Shallows of a Starlit Lake” on Bandcamp here.
LIKE Vahrzaw on Facebook here.
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