Azathoth's Dream | Solitary Forest Necromancy | Iron Bonehead Productions

 

    Azathoth’s Dream began as a solo project in 2023 and quickly gained attention through their debut album, “Nocturnal Vampyric Bewitchment.” Rooted in the haunting traditions of late 1990s French black metal, the band drew inspiration from acts like Osculum Infame, Bekhira, Winter Funeral, and Seth. Their sound also aligned with the newer wave of raw, vampyric black metal emerging in the U.S., associated with projects such as Sanguine Relic, Vampirska, and early Lamp Of Murmuur. Now expanded into a two-member entity and part of the underground collective Order Of The Broken Sword, Azathoth’s Dream continues their development under Iron Bonehead Productions with the release of their second album, “Solitary Forest Necromancy.”

 “Solitary Forest Necromancy” stays true to the project’s core influences, yet adds more dimension. The sound remains rooted in distant, atmospheric black metal with a strong sense of melodic sensibility. The overall tone is cold and mist-covered, shaped by sharp guitar lines and distant, dungeon-born vocals. The synths play a large role, giving the album a ceremonial and arcane feeling that enhances its spectral mood.

The production is raw but structured in a way that doesn’t blur the musical intent. There’s a consistent mood of isolation and spiritual withdrawal that flows from start to finish, backed by tempos that shift from slow, hypnotic marches to more urgent, wind-swept charges. At times, the synths guide the structure more than the guitars, producing a distant echo of dungeon synth’s ambience. The vocals are buried but expressive, drifting through the mix like the voice of some forgotten forest entity.

Despite being deeply immersed in familiar sonic territory, “Solitary Forest Necromancy” does not come across as derivative. The songwriting gives each piece its own shade within the greater landscape of the album, making the listening experience feel cohesive and intentional. The length is well-judged, avoiding fatigue and making the entire journey feel contained and complete.

“Solitary Forest Necromancy” is the kind of black metal that appeals through mood and devotion. There’s no need for fast changes or dramatic turns; the focus is on repetition, trance, and deep immersion in a nocturnal and woodland world. The addition of a second member seems to have brought more structure and variation into the sound without changing its essence.

Score: 7.0