Artist: Stygian Storm
Country: Spain
Label: Abyssal Spectra / Escafismo Records
Formats: LP / Cassette Tape / CD
Year: 2025
Usually, when it comes to reviewing, I like to stick with releases of a few weeks old, couple of months maximum. Otherwise I feel like the whole idea going down of informing the public of newly released material that is worth checking out – as, in the end, that is what we do: cherry picking in the endless floods of releases. For Spanish Black Metal band Stygian Storm I am making this exception, I had this one lying around for a good amount of months already, as it was actually already released last summer, but just never came to fully dive in the album and to write something substantial. So, with the idea of “better late than never”, here we go.
The duo behind Stygian Storm already introduced us to the band with ‘Demo’, the band’s debut demo tape from 2023 (also released by Escafismo Records). Not only did the two tracks on this tape give you a little glimpse in what the band was about and what to expect from the album that was already planned, but if it did show one thing it was that, with it selling out so quickly, Stygian Storm was a band to keep an eye on. With a modest buzz in the underground circles this band certainly had something to them.
With ‘The Flame Of Rebellion Never Dies’ we are served with the materialization of the band’s full potential. At least, it is a solid and promising start. The Black Metal that’s been fired our way is one that has distinctly authentic feel, it clearly blends the epic and atmospheric parts of bands like pre-‘Nemesis Divina’ Satyricon, Enslaved and Ulver. Although Spain might largely have a rather different historical background, this band’s take on the epic/atmospheric Pagan-like Black Metal is just as good as any Scandinavian or German band. Their sense for song writing and excellent melodies do add a lot to Stygian Storm’s overall ambiance, as do the occasional “clean” singing/humming and the use of acoustics that fuel the Folkish nature of the music even more.
Most remarkable or noteworthy of ‘The Flames Of Rebellion Never Dies’, however, is the overall production. Where most of the band’s peers and examples, now and before, have a rather clear sound, a sonic setting in which every bit of the compositions feel both powerful and placed exactly there where it should. But, frankly, this first Stygian Storm album is not quite a Pytten-produced record. ‘The Flame Of Rebellion Never Dies’ in fact sounds quite muffled and murky, at times even a bit bumpy. This is something I think has to suit you. Because sometimes it does add to the overall experience, mostly in terms of an ancient atmosphere and the feeling of authenticity, but I cannot shake off the feeling that some passages would actually benefit from a slightly cleaner sound. In fact this debut album turns out to basically have the sound of a demo tape.
To me personally, especially after spinning the record a few times, the album has a great ancient vibe, something that reminds me of the many great Black Metal albums that came from the Norwegian scene in the 90’s. I also like the production and I think it is a great fit to the music and it certainly adds to the purity of the epic and moody compositions. So, this review might come to you a bit late, but at least it is not too late for you to check it out and pick up a copy on vinyl from Escafismo Records or on cassette tape from Abyssal Spectra.
