This German-Swiss black metal entity has been around for ten years and the band has steadily released new material every two years. Fifth album Vurias is not an exception to the rule, following the stellar Dust from 2023. The line-up remains intact since the last album and now we have eight new dark hymns (with a bonus track for the limited edition) in the well-known Thron tradition, although there are some differences, which I will mention in a while.
The Serpent’s Path starts with a mid-tempo wall of guitars, well-accentuated melodies and an interesting structure, while Astral Materia and Hubris’ Crown are more typical of Thron’s melodic and prevalently fast black metal. A Paradox displays layer after layer of tempo-changes and really strong guitar riffs, all played upon an absolutely virtuoso rhythm section. This is the first track where Thron’s updated vision for the new album is more pronounced: the classic heavy metal influences from Dust are toned down and instead we can hear progressive metal and even some very subdued gothic rock textures. Ungemach (Stilles Ende) reminds me of Watain’s musical approach in The Wild Hunt. The song even bravely experiments with some unusual musical instruments and melodies, sounding almost jazzy in the second half. Zingultus (Endstille, Nagelfar, Morast, Graupel) and Norman Lonhard (ex-Triptykon, ex-Fear My Thoughts, Dead Eyed Creek) guest, adding even more depth to the overall bleak picture of this nine-minute epic.
One Truth, One Light and Griefbearer are more typical of what we love Thron for – two consecutive black metal masterpieces with some amazing lead guitar melodies. The Hunter And The Prey is closer in spirit to the album opener, more restrained in tempo, with a fantastic instrumental section, even throwing in some really tasteful and suiting saxophone parts. Thron have obviously been thinking out of the box for Vurias, doing what they feel and never feeling restrained by genre boundaries or clichés. Thus, their new album is less immediate and may sound a bit experimental in places but in the end is an even more rewarding musical experience than Dust. I surely needed more time to fully encompass all of the great musical ideas, melodies and subtle soundbites in each of the songs, but the class of this album is undeniable.
The Metamorph’s Curse is truly epic and grandiose, sounding like a triumph and deservedly so, because Thron are once again standing head and shoulders above the competition in this overcrowded genre.
10/10
Vurias will be out on October 31st and can be ordered from HERE
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