Time Held Me Grey and Dying

I first heard this album when it released on 30 June. I decided to give it a chance after seeing it posted in some black metal groups. The album art seemed intriguing - perhaps it was the mystery of the screaming man which lured me in to listen, or perhaps divine date. Either way I am most extremely happy (or should I say sad) to have found this.

They are fresh music but not fresh faced. Ofnus comes from the dark depths of Wales, conjured by the minds who brought you Black Pyre and Agrona. This band is melodic, memorable and melancholic. All the greatest facets of black metal with ear worms for days. Sleep on them and you'll be extremely sorry. Ofnus has really outdone themselves here. They have produced a stellar ode to sorrows and have clearly worked very hard. The composition escapes by Alyn Hunter really shine through in this music. He is clearly an accomplished musician, and with the help of the rest of the band deliver an epic for the ages. A true symphony. Dare I say, a masterpiece!

The album begins with some atmosphere, building tension with the synth and whispering... Then the toms of Ethan Reed Spargo come in, and those dial harmonies! Oh goodness, the harmonies here just work so well. You instantly understand that this will be melodic black metal. And boy, melody does it deliver! But first, we get the vocals of William Philpot. A higher register scream, it curdles the blood. Perhaps even a banshee like quality, and I mean that as a compliment! But yes, Burned By The Soul Of The Moon takes you on a journey. Melodic, harrowing... And toward the end of it, the transition into a choral epic! Think gregorian chants by monks - William delivers ye olde goods!

We then are blasted with the wonderfuls melody of The Endless Grey. This track has a catchier feel. You begin with hooks on the guitar, masterfully delivered by James Ponsford. The guitars, they just shimmer right on in the foreground, masterfully blending beautiful and haunting chords with endless flourishes and soaring leads, devouring your soul. The tone is finely woven into the mix, and delivers those oh-so-catchy melodies right into your ear holes in the most pleasant of ways. Tracks like Fading Dreams truly being iconic and riff-tastic, really prying at those black metal barriers and bringing us a breath of fresh air. Inspiring dare I say?!

Next, the orchestral and synthesiser section. Now this is MIGHTY. Beefing up the songs to a new level, but without being just another orchestral Emperor copy. These boys have added in orchestral in such a tasteful way. Sometimes wistful, other times feeling huge and cavernous. These layers make for a truly wondrous listening experience and provide that MEAT that so many bands lack, making the sound full and vibrant.

And now the drums, oh boy the drums. Bravo to Mister Drummer here because eff-me-in-the-A, what a performance! A spectacle for sure. These drums are complex and well structured, clearly thought out and just beautifully executed. They feel precise, powerful and best of all, TASTEFUL! Yes! So many drummers can lose the soul of the music by overplaying or underplaying. But this drummer, he has that perfect balance between complexity and simplicity. Simply sublime. The fills are always in good time and fit the feel, making transitions smooth and seamless. And the beats are always on time, and always just classy. Yes that's right, classy.

Now, we must discuss the bass. Understated at times, yes, but always a force in the background keeping the music underpinned with lows, and supporting those guitars and synths beautifully. A pretty spectacular bass tone as well in such a full and dynamic mix. A lovely performance so kudos to the bass player!

And lastly the vocals. And oh boy it's not least by any stretch. The vocals are pure agony. Tortured and cold, these vocals capture the essence of the sadness and melancholy. So many of the songs are themed on sorrow and these vocals just latch onto that sadness and convey it in a very real way. You can feel the cold depression in the rasp of the highs. And then the almost chilling baritones on tracks like Burned By The Soul of The Moon. They carry that frostbitten feel of bands like Borknagar, while still keeping it their own. The vocals are simply wonderful. Whilst catchy at times, they retain that true sense of what makes black metal so desirable and deliver in such a diverse range which so few bands can do. Impressive for just the one vocalist too!

And so, in summary, this album is just a beautiful and bright gem of a debut. Glimmering atop a pedestal is where this album belongs. Truly a debut to be reckoned with, for its masterful craftsmanship and it's bloody catchiness. I proudly score this 99%. It'll be hard to top.