Ildverden |Thou Not Shalt |Satanath Records/Wine And Fog Productions/More Hate Productions

Release Date: 25.10.2025
Format: CD/Digital
Genre: Black Metal
Country: Ukraine

Born in the fires of 2007, the Ukrainian entity Ildverden has been lurking in the shadows for a long time. After a decade of silence following their last assault on Satanath Records, the project returns with its sixth full-length manifestation. This isn't the same raw, pagan-obsessed beast from the early days. The mastermind behind the project has spent ten years rotting in the depths of existentialist thought and nihilism, emerging with a sound that shifts away from typical forest-dwelling tropes into something far more detached and cold.

"Thou Not Shalt" is a grim slab of mid-tempo filth that prioritizes a ritualistic atmosphere over mindless blasting. It is refreshing to hear a production that skips the digital garbage; tracking the guitars through analog pedals and tube amps gives the record a jagged, honest edge. You can hear the electricity humming in the wires. The shift toward shorter, concentrated bursts of aggression makes the misanthropic themes hit harder, avoiding the bloated excess that kills so many modern black metal releases.

The songwriting leans into a measured, occult style that brings to mind the evolution of Satyricon or the cold precision of Enslaved. Tracks like "Sullen Enchantment" and "The Keeper Of Silence" dump the listener into a pit of reflection and regret without sacrificing the speed required to keep the genre's black heart beating. It’s a hateful, focused experience. The lyrics have ditched the old-school pagan worship for a bleak look at the meaninglessness of existence, which fits the slower, more suffocating pace of the music perfectly.

Just when you think you’ve pinned down the vibe, they throw a curveball with "Fucking Hell (Part II)". This closer is a total middle finger to expectations, pivoting into a nasty blend of old-school black/thrash and punk. It sounds like a basement session fueled by spite and cheap booze, acting as a tribute to the ancient ways of the genre.

Score: 7.5