Spiritwood released Cold Moon Blasphemies in November 2018. Regrettably, it has taken me this long to cotton onto this atmospheric group. Hailing from Finland Spiritwood is an atmospheric black metal band that have now released three full-length albums and more than half a dozen demos.
The album begins with Intro before The Necrocosm – this second track is one of the best on the album and exemplifies a truly spirited atmospheric sound. The third, fourth and fifth tracks are: 41 g. Arae, Cold Moon Blasphemies and Aion.
Each song develops well, and it is refreshing to hear black metal that is not dominated by synth and a blast beat. It is good to hear droning and drawn out riffs that truly create a haunting and atmospheric ambience.
The final three tracks Cetus, Archaeosis and Sada continue along a similar trajectory. All together Spiritwood’s Cold Moon Blasphemies is a good black metal album, but a fantastic atmospheric album. I began to get tired of the atmospheric offshoot of black metal but this album, among a few others, gives me some hope that truly atmospheric and haunting black metal will continue to live on.
Release Year: 2019
Label: Humanity’s Plague Prod.
Category: Album
Country: Finland
Reviewed by Sam Lehmann
