HegerothI made the statement after listening to Hegerøth’s 2012 ep “Spectral Fear” that I wanted to hear more. Here it is. The title refers to a place in Silesia where the Russian, Austro-Hungarian and German empires once converged. When I visited this part of present day Poland, I was surprised how even now there is a mixture of cultures and languages but now it is peaceful. It wasn’t at the beginning of the twentieth century.

So is “Three Emperors’ Triangle” worth listening to? Yes, it is. Swathes of controlled and fused layers of subtly symphonic black metal with dark atmospheres and captivating melodies are all part of a rich mix. It’s done in a modern way. “The Kings on Thrones” leads the way. It’s not downtrodden like some black metal. Sparks fly and fury rises amid symphonic mayhem, but it’s got an appealing melody as layer upon layer of dark power is thrust upon us. The high energy level continues into “The Enforcer” as Hegerøth take us atmospherically through great halls of darkness. It’s so driven as to be thrashy in nature but so too is it symphonic, spooky, heavy and indeed all that is good about modern black metal. “The Slaves of War” radiates power after a symphonic start and a melodic continuation, breaking into a cascade of expanding darkness. It is imperious, as we wallow in swamps of symphonic tension and pulsating guitar lines. A rampant riff drives through “Breath of the Night”. The delivery is furious but the twinkly symphonic sounds add colour to the toe-tapping feast of black metal melody.

Those first four tracks exude life and energy, before the second half of this imperial tale takes on a more sinister aspect. “Lake of Tears” is a dark and dreary tale, which didn’t burst into life. The character is different now as “The Mirror” is more grim and bleak in its progression than anything we’ve heard up till now. The style is more old school, as “Forgotten Place” now twists and turns nastily, while performing the musical equivalent of dragging us through a ploughed field. There is a return of previous energy as symphonic sparks fly momentarily and the track ends dramatically. Indistinct hissing sounds precede the bonus track “Dancing in the Morgue”. It is different. Sparking symphony complements deep tones and aural images of hard labour.

The mood is always dark, but there are two distinct halves here as “Three Emperors’ Triangle” transforms a multi-coloured atmosphere into something more sinister. Personally, I felt there was more ingenuity, invention and interest in the first half of this assault but there’s no doubt that Hegerøth know how to invade and exploit the grim world of black metal. In “Emperors’ Triangle” they have released a captivating album.

(8/10 Andrew Doherty)

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