Artist: Necromantic Worship / The Nameless Shrine
Country: The Netherlands
Label: Wolfkult Religion
Format: Split 7” EP
Year: 2026
Mystical, Dutch, and a love for ancient Black Metal. It is what ties bands and label together on this Wolfkult Religion released Split between Necromantic Worship and The Nameless Shrine.
Necromantic Worship was founded in 2015 but after releasing a couple of demos, vanished in a prolonged slumber. After reawakening in 2023, the band finally released their first full-length last year and now return with their side of the split ‘Blood of the Abyss’. As before, the sound is delightfully muffled, with entrancing synthesizers and slightly reverbed vocals. The occult and mystical Black Metal is very much in their vein of Varathron, Mortuary Drape, Samael and the likes and this song has a great mass-like character. There is an absolutely delightful rocking riff halfway before the darkened mood is elevated once more, and as a whole the track is incredibly catchy. Mesmerizing, and with a great howling solo near the end, it feels needless to say that if you were entranced by the band’s self-titled debut or their other work, then this track will too be a must for your collection. Excellent stuff!
The Nameless Shrine is a relatively new duo from the Netherlands, forming in 2025. Earlier this year they released a digital single titled ‘Sigils Beneath the Black Moon’ and the band now returns with ‘The Veil Torn by Forbidden Fire’ With chugging riffs akin to the Greek scene and funerary organs, much like Necromantic Worship this new band also adores music with a distinct early 90’s vibe to it. With a rather clear sound and raspy vocals, the guitars are buzzing, the bass is plodding and keyboards and churchbells enhance the atmosphere. I love the role of the bass and the organs here and as a whole, the music exudes a power through simplicity in the riffs and all the right accents on atmosphere. It captures that occult and mystical feeling, of the bands mentioned above, their countrymen with whom they share this split, but also the neighbors with releases on Medieval Prophecy Records like Forbidden Temple, Perverted Ceremony and Moenen of Xezbeth. A more than worthy addition and clearly a band with great promise!
This 7” EP will be released on the 15th of May and it only feels fitting that it will see the light coinciding with the 7” EP re-release of Varathron’s first demo ‘Procreation of the Unaltered Evil’. Both bands on this split clearly hold releases like that demo, as well those late 80’s and early 90’s recordings from the more Southern parts of Europe very close to their heart, and effortlessly join the resurgence of bands that have paid hommage to that sound in the last couple of years.
