Oakenthrone may currently sit within the shadows of closes peers Winterfylleth, yet based on this debut release, Ad Silvum, they soon look to be carving a niche for themselves within the UK black metal scene. Purveyors of atmospheric and dramatic music, embracing nature and death, their approach is hardly new, yet there is a hunger and an expansiveness here which sets them apart.
Channeling ancient runes and witching ways, the sombre ‘Awacen’ is a brief interlude to the majestic ‘A Vigil Under Sol’ and it is here the first seeds of a wider picture are sown. Rather than approaching the music at the usual 100mph riffs, Oakenthrone take a more measured approach verging on doom at times. It’s a widescreen sound, albeit certainly imbued with the requisite heaviness.
‘Runic Mastery’ ups the ante in terms of devastating vocals, and the music veers from the dramatic doom of before to more ferocious riffing. It’s akin to your soul being cast over desolate landscapes. The sheer terror of the olde plains of Albion sweeping you into its arms to be chewed up.
This mythical quality is enhanced further on tracks such ‘Augur of Petrichor’ and particularly ‘Monolith’ with lyrics evoking ancient battles. More closer to home (for this reviewer) is ‘Hiraeth’, a Welsh word which has no literal translation but means “a sense of belonging” in particular to Wales. An ancient feeling, tapping into old Celt stories that you sense Oakenthrone are ensconced in.
Final track ‘Et Sic Ad Silvam’ mixes folk music with the aforementioned atmospheric black metal to great effect, and one suspects that this is the route that will see the band develop further in future. In creating a sound that doesn’t rely on the usual full force black metal riffing, and explores a more expansive and meandering sound they have hit on an epic quality. We look forward to hearing more from these in the future, but in the meantime this is a great album to introduce yourselves to a fantastic addition to the UK black metal scene.
