Coffin Storm – Arcana Rising (2024)

May 15, 2024

Really cool shit. Took me a few listens to really get into it because Fenriz’s vocals just sounded a bit odd to me. It felt as though they didn’t quite match the rest of the music, at least on first impressions, but the whole thing has grown on me massively. It’s cool to see some long running members of the Norwegian black metal scene come together to do something slightly different. I know Darkthrone have been incorporating this doomy kind of traditional / old school metal sound into their stuff for a while now, but nothing like this. Also, this thing has Apollyon on drums – that guy is a machine! Really interesting to hear him play more “naturally” here (at a more flowing pace, no triggers, etc).

The production on the debut from Coffin Storm is as big yet as warm and as organic as you would expect, considering the names involved. Comparisons sound wise could be made to Fenriz’s own Isengard, as well as the varied catalog of King Diamond, but the basis of this group’s sound exists in the trad doom of Trouble, St. Vitus, Pentagram and the like.

I can’t imagine this will be for everyone, but it’s a solid metal album and I’m glad they made it.