Artist: Stygian Storm
Country: Spain
Label: Medieval Prophecy Records
Formats: LP / CD
Year: 2025
Although Stygian Storm’s debut album was preceded by a demo tape released in the fall of 2023, it was primarily ‘The Flame Of Rebellion Never Dies’, released in the summer of 2024, that made a strong impression on the Black Metal audience. The click-happy crowd on YouTube even turned it into a bit of a mild hype, but none of that seems to have really impressed the band, because for this follow-up, the duo simply took their time and continued down the path they had mapped out for themselves. Trends come and go, especially in today’s fast-paced “disposable metal” culture, so it remains to be seen whether people have already moved on to something else and may have forgotten Stygian Storm. Those who have stuck around will find ‘Countless Dawns Of Blood And Iron’ to be a stunning piece of triumphant Black Metal: connoisseurs, rejoice!
At first listen, not much seems to have changed compared to ‘The Flame Of Rebellion Never Dies’, and the move from the now-defunct Escafismo Records to the acclaimed Medieval Prophecy Records appears to be the biggest change. However, if you listen closely and, above all, give this album a few extra spins, it becomes clear that not only is there an upward trend in terms of coherence and impactful song writing, but there is also a clear deepening of the chosen concept.
Whereas the debut album primarily featured a healthy mix of classic Satyricon, Borknagar, Enslaved, and Ulver, that soundscape has now deepened into a multi-layered grandeur, heavily infused with the might and magic of 90s Pagan Black Metal aesthetics. That the duo (active in such bands as Prophets Of Doom, Nigromancer, Unholy Black Pentagram, Harvest Of Grief, Blood Ecstasy, Calderum, Crucification, Messe De Minuit, and countless others—often together) knew their stuff was already obvious on the debut album. However, it seems that before beginning work on this sequel, the two completely dismantled their original concept and meticulously rebuilt it, imbuing every single element with additional meaning. The epic tracks feel more grandiose, the faster passages are more relentless, and the slightly more refined use of clean vocals, repetitive melodies, and incredible dynamics result in an album that has everything it takes to leave a lasting impact.
Another noteworthy change can be found in the production of ‘Countless Dawns Of Blood And Iron’. The debut had a somewhat muffled production that, while certainly not entirely out of place, did detract somewhat from the music’s impact. This has been completely rectified on the new album; the much better and clearer production allows every aspect of this work of art to shine through. Especially in the more subdued tracks with clean vocals, where the sometimes Bathory-esque epicness comes to the fore (minus the Quorthon vocals), the value of a good sound proves to be priceless.
Some online Black Metal experts have drawn comparisons to Godkiller based on a red logo on an album cover featuring a castle. Although it speaks volumes that bands like Wallachia, Evilfeast and Godkiller are being brought into the discussion purely based on a bit of graphic design, in terms of musicality, it’s actually not that far off from those bands. You can still add a touch of Ulver and, for example, Malignant Eternal to that for a pretty good idea of what Stygian Storm sounds like in 2026. Stygian Storm is definitely in the running for the title of “Best Spanish Black Metal Band”.
