Formed in 2020, Schreigarm
quickly carved out their name within the underground. Though based in
Germany, both founding members hail from Ukraine, and that dual heritage is key
to their identity. On one hand, their music carries the icy discipline often
associated with German black metal. On the other, it bears the spiritual
vastness and mystic fire of the Ukrainian scene. Their 2023 debut, “The
Mysteries Of Fate”, introduced this union in raw but striking form. Now, with
their second album “Mara Comes And Darkness Shall Reign”, the duo presents a
grander, more refined vision that fully realizes their potential.
This new
work spans eight tracks across forty-eight minutes, a journey as immersive as
it is relentless. Schreigarm draws deeply
from epic and pagan, with their songwriting built on sweeping structures and a
sense of narrative that feels almost ceremonial. The use of multiple vocal
styles—ranging from feral rasps to commanding clean lines—gives the album a
theatrical edge. Guest contributions, such as the ethereal female voice woven
through tracks like “Whispers Of The Blackened Woods” and the spoken role of Mara
herself, further broaden the spectrum of expression.
Instrumentally, Schreigarm operate with a grand scale. Guitars weave between biting tremolo and soaring harmonies, while the bass underpins each passage with a steady, grounding force. Keyboards, used sparingly but effectively, lend a ritualistic aura, often glowing beneath the storm of riffs. The drumming, recorded separately by Lycane, adds weight and drive, carrying the songs with shifting tempos that avoid predictability. Every element serves the whole, resulting in a sound vast and cohesive.
What truly
sets “Mara Comes And Darkness Shall Reign” apart is its sense of immersion.
Each track feels like a world unto itself, yet all are tied together by the
concept of darkness, myth, and transformation. The album balances melancholy
and triumph, shadow and flame, often within the same song. It is a work that
invites full attention: to drift through its atmospheres is to enter a mythic
landscape, one built from grief, defiance, and awe.
In the end,
Schreigarm’s second album stands as a
powerful affirmation of their place in today’s black metal movement. It is
ambitious, fully realized, and deeply atmospheric, with an intensity that
lingers long after its final moments fade.
Score: 8.5
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