Nefarious Dusk - The Wanderer of the Cold North Din A5 Digipak CD

Residing in the dankest dungeons of the UK black metal scene, Nefarious Dusk was formed in 2011 by the ever-prolific Dominus, AKA Hrafn, who currently counts the considerable Thy Dying Light and labelmates Úlfarr among his activities. A couple of demos followed before Azrael joined on vocals for 2014's God is Dead demo. Four years followed with silence before the aptly titled Cold Shadows Over Transylvania EP, which saw Azrael depart briefly but Dominus now joined by Fog on drums.

At last, all three members have rejoined and conspired to create the masterful The Wanderer of the Cold North, Nefarious Dusk's long-awaited debut album. Dedicated to Cumbria - for Nefarious Dusk, just like Úlfarr, proudly play Cumbrian Black Metal - with the exception of "Doll Tor," which is a tribute to Derbyshire, The Wanderer of the Cold North is an absolutely chilling-yet-rousing blast of ancient atmosphere and hypnotic pulse. With Azrael adding utterly mystical synths atop these 10 spellbinding tracks, each one as epic as the last, Nefarious Dusk's nearly hour-long full-length debut draws the listener into forgotten realms and an arcane age, with an exceptionally nuanced production adding that touch that's tangible yet otherworldly. Of course, each of these SONGS possess strength from beginning to end, and prove that traditionalist black metal need not be unimaginative and reductive to convey a power and poignancy that last long after the record's over. Indeed, The Wanderer of the Cold North could be any one of us, those drawn to this eternal spell...