Album review: Ibex Angel Order – II – Void Sermon
Band: Ibex Angel Order
Title: II – Void Sermon
Label: Void Wanderer Productions
Release date: July 24th, 2025
Country: The Netherlands
Format reviewed: CD Quality Digital Promo
Album review: Ibex Angel Order – II – Void Sermon via Void Wanderer Productions by Consanguineus
Every country has its own veterans within the black metal scene — musicians who have been active for years, left an indelible mark, and helped shape the contours of their national underground. The Netherlands is no exception, and whether they care to acknowledge it or not, Ludas and Herr AIDS undeniably belong to that echelon. As former members of the mighty Sauron — a band that made a lasting impression in the early days with its uncompromising, raw black metal — these two individuals have more than earned their stripes in the Dutch underground.
In 2008, they joined forces once again and formed Funeral Goat, a project dedicated to pure, unfiltered destruction, culminating in a devastating full-length. But as is often the case with artists who continue to seek depth and evolution, they changed course in 2013. Funeral Goat became Ibex Angel Order, a name that not only signaled a new musical direction but also hinted at a deeper esoteric concept expressed through both sound and text.
Since then, Ibex Angel Order has released several offerings — ritualistic, trance-inducing black metal that moves far beyond the trodden paths of the genre. This is music in which the occult is not merely aesthetic, but a summoning force that pulsates through every note. On stage, too, the duo has made their mark several times — always intense, always in complete surrender to the craft.
Now, more than ten years after their debut, the second chapter in their dark saga finally arrives. And it’s not simply a continuation, but a deeper descent into their established path — richer, darker, and more steeped in mysticism than ever before. What we’re presented with is not a mere collection of songs, but a ritual — a descent into the cavernous recesses of the mind, where the familiar dissolves and only the inner vision remains.
With this new album — I – Void Sermon — released exclusively on vinyl through the Dutch label Void Wanderer Productions, Ibex Angel Order marks the beginning of a new era. From the very first seconds of opener The Sword and the Sigil, it’s abundantly clear: subtlety is not on the menu. What follows is a merciless assault, a fiery downpour of raw black metal poured over you like burning pitch. The pace is relentless, the atmosphere suffocating, and the intent unmistakable — this is pure devotion to the archaic forces that have driven this project for years.
The following title track continues in the same spirit, but opens with a militaristic snare drum that briefly offers a moment of breath. It evokes flashes of the glory days of classic Greek black metal — think early Rotting Christ or Varathron — with their marching rhythms and ritualistic atmosphere. Yet the composition soon collapses into chaos again, with a renewed surge of blast beats, tremolo-picked riffs, and incantatory vocals.
What sets this album apart is its paradoxical blend of simplicity and impact. The riffs are mostly straightforward, the structures clear-cut, and the production is raw but clear enough to let everything hit as it should. And that’s precisely where the strength of this record lies. No unnecessary layers, no digital gloss — just pure intent, captured in analog savagery. In this sense, it occasionally recalls the austere honesty we’ve seen in bands like Urfaust: less is more, provided the spirit behind the music is strong enough. And here, it absolutely is.
The true black mass begins with Shadow Weaver, without question one of the album’s most atmospheric tracks. The song unfolds slowly, ominously, with a trance-inducing intensity. A shadow gradually weaves itself over our world, supported by spellbinding vocals that hover somewhere between liturgical chanting and demonic howling. Yet even here, the band doesn’t linger in reflection for long — the storm returns, and the listener is once again dragged into a maelstrom of dissonance and violence.
With highlights like Shadow Weaver and Nine Am I, the album also proves that it doesn’t rely solely on brute force and velocity. These particular tracks reveal a more layered approach: Shadow Weaver excels in its slow build and hypnotic atmosphere, while Nine Am I stands out with its mantric repetition and ominous mysticism. In these moments, the band introduces subtle variation without ever compromising the overarching vision — the atmosphere remains impenetrable and oppressive, but there’s space for nuance.
This variation makes the album surprisingly dynamic, especially within a genre often criticized for monotony or rigidity. Ibex Angel Order demonstrates that “obscure” doesn’t have to mean “one-dimensional.” On the contrary — beneath the rough surface lies a clear artistic vision, with every composition serving the greater whole.
For those drawn to the more ritualistic, hermetic, and uncompromising side of black metal, this is a must-listen. It’s an album that’s raw and confrontational, yet also radiates a genuine spiritual depth. I – Void Sermon deserves a place in the collection of anyone willing to be pulled deep into the genre’s darker recesses — far removed from trends, polished productions, and superficial shock tactics.
Label
Website
Bandcamp
Instagram
Facebook
8/10 To Greatness and Glory!
**Please support the underground! It’s vital to the future of our genre**
#WeAreBlessedAltarZine
#TheZineSupportingTheUnderground
