CLOAK - Black Flame Eternal

CLOAK – Black Flame Eternal
Release Date: 26th May 2023
Label: Season of Mist
Bandcamp
Genre: Dark Heavy Metal, Black Metal, Heavy Metal.
FFO: Watain, Dissection, Behemoth, Tribulation, Rotting Christ, Nite.
Review By: Mark Young

Black Flame Eternal is the third full length album from CLOAK and have treated its creation with the intention that it can be held in similar regard to classic third albums within heavy metal. Whilst in the recording process they realised that influences are one thing but in order to truly move forward and develop, the writing, arranging and building their own art has to come from themselves, and be brave enough to release it.

Ethereal Fire certainly starts with its best foot forward, combining crashing drums and rapid trem picking that settles into an atmospheric guitar line that support the vocals coming in. It’s heavy on the melodic approach without losing the heavy side, keeping a fine balance with an excellent break that just makes you bang your head. There is a majesty to this and bodes incredibly well for the following songs.

With Fury and Allegiance is a grabber straight from the off, it’s urgent and has everything perfectly pitched. There is a lot going on in the arrangement without being muddled or included for the wrong reasons. It’s tight and direct and will surely be absolute fire live.

Shadowlands is another blinder, combining atmosphere and arrangement with some cracking guitar phrasing that gives over to some spot-on soloing. It also ups the ante by picking the tempo up, which injects it with just enough urgency to be in keeping with the overall song without being fast for fast’ sake.

Invictus on the other hand, decides it wants to start at escape velocity and is a ripper, with an infectious riff and building structure that allows it to slow right down to bring the chug. Once again it gets the head going as the solo comes in going for the emotional rather than overt technical and is brilliant. Like before, they are not content to stay within one area for a song and mix it up in the second half, with more speed to get them to the finish line. They don’t ease off with the subtle side of things, though, and it’s this balance they have got down to a tee.

Seven Thunders keeps the foot down, mixing what feels like some punk sensibilities, and then they drop a classic melody line that is reminiscent of the main theme from Phantasm (great film, if you haven’t seen it rectify this immediately and see if you spot the link with Entombed) that releases then end piece. It’s another one that is chock-full of riffs that bangs straight into Eye of the Abyss, and they are really on fire now. The intro and main riff are a real foot on the monitor-get the crowd going-movement, and it’s just royal, the arrangement is spot on.

The Holy Dark is possibly the closest to black metal in its execution, but with a touch of thrash riffing thrown in. Background vocals evoke a dark mass choir with pummelling drums and again the whole thing just booms with that light / dark face off with the guitars complimenting each other. I’m not sure how many times I can say that it is full of great moments that will translate so well live.

Heavenless brings us an acoustic start and acts as a brief set up for the final act. It’s the shortest track here and has the job of easing in Black Flame Eternal. The placing of Heavenless at track 8 is perfect as it just allows a breath whilst not affecting the momentum that has been built previously. The final song starts as Ethereal Fire started on that front foot, complete with the spidery lines and full-on riffs. Earlier I said about their desire to move beyond their influences and make their mark. They have certainly achieved it here as it just rips from start to finish and for fans of the bands listed below you should be incredibly excited for this. Just brilliant.