Artist: Black Edifice
Country: Norway
Label: Ancient Night Productions
Formats: 7″ EP
Year: 2025
‘The Miasmic Trance’, Black Edifice’s debut demo tape (or was it an EP?) from 2023, ended up being one of my personal demo highlights of that year. It took The Archfiend almost two years to come up with a new piece of music, especially for a one-man band that is quite on the long side for nowadays standards. But that also says something about the working methods of this illustrious figure; it is clear that he takes his time to perfect his music and does not settle for substandard quality. ‘From The Ancient Of Night’ is undoubtedly a further deepening of the occult Black Metal atmosphere that already adorned this band’s excellent debut.
Even more now than on the debut tape, Black Edifice’s core is typified by the thoroughly arcane sound of late 80s Black Metal. Although the occult atmosphere already dominated on ‘The Miasmic Trance’, it has been further enhanced on these three new tracks, reflecting the mystical primal sound of Mystifier, Necromantia, Asaradel, Baxaxaxa, Xantotol, Samael and especially Varathron to great lengths. The prominent role of the keyboards makes up a large part of Black Edifice’s musical DNA. However, it is not only the atmosphere of (especially) the aforementioned bands, but it also has an unmistakable atmosphere of warm-blooded occult Italian horror. It is therefore not difficult to draw a comparison with especially Abysmal Grief, a band that seems to be playing an increasingly important role in contemporary occult Black Metal. The result is an almost equally sultry type of Black Metal reminiscent of scenes captured in 1960s Hammer Horror films and the overall enigmatic Italian cinema.
Again, it is the superb combination of raw guitars, a hefty dose or organ-like keyboards and a warm production that makes ‘From The Ancient Of Night’ such a thoroughly captivating EP. Even with only just over 13 minutes of playing time it feels like it is a nightmarish delirium, slipping in and out of consciousness, ever-haunted by the great darkness that goes beyond our everyday perceptions.
Mentioning other bands names to clarify where to look for this may be a little too easy, but it might lower the threshold for adding Black Edifice to your list of favourite bands. So, for that reason: fans of more contemporary bands such as Forbidden Temple, Moenen Of Xezbeth, Haan Valar, Nekromanteion, Under The Moon, Nigromancer, Moonfall, Ceremonial Torture, Cursed Excruciation, Funerealm Gloom, and Oath Of Malignancy should definitely pick up this 7″ EP.
