Artist: Irae
Country: Portugal
Label: Signal Rex
Formats: LP / CD
Year: 2025
A year after the release of the ‘Promiscuous Fire’ EP, we now finally have Irae’s new full-length album and follow-up to 2022’s ‘Assim Na Terra Como No Inferno’. Even though Irae’s discography is rather impressive, the last couple of years Vulturius hasn’t been really prolific. At least, when it comes to Irae. With the countless other bands and projects he maintains (Morte Incandescente, Decayed, Concilium, Necrobode among others) it is easy to imagine that the focus cannot always be on writing new songs. But anyway, here we are, Irae’s seventh album is now a reality.
With 40 minutes worth of new material, this new album shows that Vulturius is leading his main vessel into slightly new waters. Although the ultimate straightforwardness of Irae’s early work has long since become slightly more well-rounded, but there was always this core feeling of uncompromising Black Metal that was devoid of any unnecessary frills. ‘In The Key Of Twilight’ is the first album that completely embraces a different approach. I wouldn’t call it sophisticated or like a complete U-turn, as the music is still fairly simple and the shift came naturally through a good few previous releases.
Still, regardless of the way you look at it, ‘In The Key Of Twilight’ is a mellower record, with more melody, more atmosphere and sometimes even verges on the ancient Greek sound. A thoroughly warmer ambiance is not something that would fit with Irae’s early output, but definitely suits Irae anno now, some quarter century after the project’s inception. With the last few releases we already heard Irae slowly moving towards a more melodic approach, even rubbing shoulders to Watain’s classic sound or even Mgła, and in a way that is still the case with this seventh full-length offering. The album is highly dynamic, with an almost playful way of using rhythm changes and rolling drums.
The point is that, without detracting from Vulturius’ talent and musicality, it feels a bit as if Irae’s current direction doesn’t quite fit. It may be part of a musical quest for a new identity that better suits him. Of course, it’s not up to me to judge or express an opinion on that, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the pieces of the puzzle fall into place better on the next album. For now, it feels like the ambitions are greater than what In The Key Of Twilight’ is able to deliver. It is not difficult to follow the direction and identify the good ideas, but the execution is not yet perfect. This becomes particularly clear when Vulturius builds up tension and then abruptly changes course in an explosive manner. While this may contribute to the dynamics, it is somewhat abrupt and stiff, which also detracts from the atmosphere. Listen to a song like ‘Key to the Darkest Path’ for instance, it has a strong resemblance to both the aforementioned Watain’s (guitars) and Mgła (vocals), but it doesn’t really come to life.
Let’s be clear, ‘In The Key Of Twilight’ is not a bad album, it has a few good tracks and a myriad of good ideas. It feels as if this album wasn’t quite finished when it was released, making it seem more like a collection of good riffs and ideas, but lacking the glue to hold it all together. For now, it seems more like a transitional album, but only time will tell. Kudos for the fantastic artwork, by the way.
