Artist: Silver
Country: USA
Label: Solitary Night Collective
Formats: Digital
Year: 2025
After two demos, released in 2022 and 2024 that were both compiled on a cassette tape earlier this year, this American one-man Black Metal project is back with a full-length. As most of its fellow bands in the Solitary Night Collective, Silver too is clearly a band that is gaining some leverage as time progresses. Although Silver was already testing the waters with those previously released demos, ‘Obsidian Moon Invocation’ is definitely the band’s best material so far.
The Solitary Night Collective is an inner circle of bands that musically fit well together, but also seem to have a shared vision on their music as well. It is music that is firmly rooted in (Raw) Black Metal, but is not averse to a certain degree of experimenting. Some of the bands in their inner circle tend to go into slightly more atmospheric or even dreamy territories, that is definitely not the case with Silver. This project’s name might suggest otherwise, but the title of this debut album and its cover art reveal the true essence of Silver. It truly delivers something that has a strong primal energy and an aura of mystique.
While some of its peers venture more into the realm of Atmospheric Black Metal, Silver has stronger roots in traditional Black Metal with a firm pace and a thoroughly raw production. But, the thing that makes Silver really stand out is the almost Death Metal-feel to the guitars that gives the music the most bite of anything from the Solitary Night Collective. That meaty sound, however, provides a stunning contrast with the slightly more progressive side of the band. As the somewhat harsh and boisterous fundament of the music is enhanced with some leads and melodies that do remind of mid-era Katatonia or even Alcest.
While that obviously might feel like an awkward combination, it works remarkably well and is a testament of Eric “Mannaz” Wing’s sense for good and suspenseful song writing. The rather short playing time of around 28 minutes also definitely contributes to the album’s spontaneous character. Certainly a great listen for those interested in something that is just slightly different, but never gets all too adventurous or experimental.
