heavy-metal-darkness: Embraced By Darkness | Ex Inferis

Monday, November 17, 2025

Embraced By Darkness | Ex Inferis | Non Serviam Records

Release Date: 31 October 2025

Format: Digipak CD/Vinyl/Digital

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Netherlands

Embraced By Darkness arrives with a strong history behind them. The band grew inside the Dutch underground and made their first mark with the EP “MMXXII”, which pushed them into the spotlight of several respected magazines. Their activity across European stages strengthened their name, and the visual identity designed by Christophe Szpajdel gave them an instantly recognizable presence. With “Ex Inferis”, their alliance with Non Serviam Records places them firmly among the serious new forces in extreme metal.

“Ex Inferis” presents Embraced By Darkness as a band fully aware of the storm they want to unleash. The sound is aggressive, melodic in a cold and violent way, and loaded with a constant sense of threat. The influence from Watain, Immortal, Gorgoroth and Dissection is clear, although the band uses those roots to carve their own path instead of simply repeating familiar ideas. The music here moves with a harsh energy, where the guitars keep throwing fire, the drumming pushes everything forward with a martial force, and Thimron’s vocals cut through the mix with venom.

There is a strong sense of escalation as the album continues. “Black Mass” and “Enlightened By The Flames” strike fast and direct, while “Darkness Awaits” and “Lord Of Darkness” stretch the atmosphere into a darker storm. Melodic lines appear through the chaos, not in a sweetened way but in a cold, violent shape that suits the band’s approach. The production by Anders Backelin gives everything a sharp presence, allowing the aggression to hit with clarity and volume without smoothing it out. The band keeps the album intense from the first track to the last, creating a continuous surge of fire and shadow that fits perfectly with their themes.

The album closes with the same harsh character it begins with, giving “Ex Inferis” a full arc of violence and atmosphere. It is a debut that shows a band hungry, confident and fully committed to the darker side of black metal. Fans of the bands mentioned above will easily connect with this type of attack, and newcomers who enjoy melodic violence will find a lot to dive into. The album’s 42 minutes pass with strong focus and a consistent storm, proving Embraced By Darkness is ready to step into bigger territory.

Score: 7.5