Opus Irae – Into the Endless Night
Band: Opus Irae
Title: Into the Endless Night
Label: Endtime Productions
Release date: November 15th, 2024
Country: Germany
Format reviewed: High-Quality Digital Recording
The German band Opus Irae has taken the metal scene by storm with their recently released debut album, “Into the Endless Night”, under the Swedish label Endtime Productions. The band was formed in 2011 and after releasing two singles and a split, they remained quiet from 2019 onwards, until November 15th of this year 2024, when their full-length album came out.
Opus Irae play Symphonic Black Metal that imprint a lot of sensitivity to their music by the way they use the symphonic elements: not simply adding keyboards to Black Metal music, but being these ones varied and predominant in all the songs in one way or another. And, also adding some orchestral arrangements and instruments like flute, harpsichord, piano, cello, they all add an extra layer of grandeur to the music. The production is extra clean, which results in an overwhelming sound and great perception of each of the instruments. Lyrics are full of Christian religion references: judgement of Mankind, resurrection, prophecies…
The composition of the songs is varied, alternating heavy passages with some calmed ones, in which symphonic elements stand out. There’s a bit of a bombastic effect sometimes, but it’s not excessive. It’s all very well balanced between fury, aggression and calm, peace, beauty. What makes this album more alluring is, in my opinion, the perfect blend between the harsh Black Metal instrumentation and symphonic passages where the listener is instantly carried to ethereal realms, almost casting a magic spell.
There are two different harsh male vocals, one is deeper and more like a sort of grunts, and the other is very raspy… and, there’s also a female vocalist who imprints delicacy to the album. Sometimes in the choruses, but also as a main character as in “Lament”, a soft and extremely beautiful piece sung in latin, where piano, cello and orchestral arrangements are mixed with mid-paced drums and the addition of guitars at the second half of the song, and the result is amazing.
Some elements that I want to highlight in this album are: the sound of the harpsichord that brings the listener to some enchanted and medieval landscapes (like in “Strict Canon in A Minor”, a mesmerizing piece), along with the flute, contributing with its sweet and delicate sound; the outstanding bass lines at the beginning of “Streams of Sorrow” (and, let me add, this song has an epic feel of victory and a special charm, with the harpsichord running free like in a baroque piece, this is gold!); the mind blowing transition between symphonic passages and heavy Black Metal instrumentation in “Light of The Morning Star”, with its spectral beginning… Also, the final battle scenario in “War Everlasting” and the closing “Furoris Irae” as an epic ending, with majestic instrumentation…
“Into the Endless Night” has been mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö, and the artwork is the work of Kristian Wåhlin, Necrolord. These details are a plus to an album that has really caught me by surprise since the first listen, it’s been a great ride! 8,5/10 by Sílvia
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8,5/10 To Greatness and Glory!
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