Album Review: Naraka – In Tenebris (Bloodblast)

Featuring well-seasoned players from the French scene, including ex-Dagoba drummer Franky Costanza, Naraka mix modern, death, thrash and black metal with symphonic flourishes. Their debut album, In Tenebris will be released on October 8th, 2021 via Bloodblast.

Seasoned players or not, Naraka need to make a strong impression on this debut as the wealth of talent in the extreme symphonic combo scene is over-flowing. Anything less than spectacular will see them quickly forgotten. Why so negative at the start of this review, you may ask?

Simply, so the exclamation that Naraka deliver what’s needed on In Tenebris, sounds so much more important! Yes, the unit bring the spectacular and then some here. Beginning with the title track, an intro that rightfully tells you that you’re about to experience something epic here.

Epic, dark, atmospheric and heavy with crunchy riffing, slamming percussion and death-focused vocals. Both Cursed and The Black punching hard and showing Naraka are more than capable of combining ruthlessness with magnificence. The latter is all the more prominent on the following Of Blood and Tears, where vocalist Veronica Bordachinni features. Although those technical guitar flourishes are certainly as impressive as her operatic range.

Dream and Wait is probably the most formulaic sounding track, aside from the ringing bells which sound awesome. That wobble is short-lived though as the immense intermission Antra Daeminium gets the blood pumping and Darkbringer brings darkness to the forefront as the drums and symphonic elements combine for a slice of extreme brilliance.

There’s plenty more epic brutality to come though with Mother of Shadows. Where the inimitable Lindsay Schoolcraft (ex-Cradle of Filth, Antiqva) delivers a rousing vocal performance to match the gothic taste of this track.

With more bite, one that builds from a growl, Sleeping in Silence is a morose head-banger and The Great Darkness goes wild and hefty for something charmingly evil sounding. Before one last massive embellishment in the form of Compendium Maleficarum ends the album on a high.

They have well and truly exceeded expectations.

Naraka – In Tenebris Full Track Listing:

1. In Tenebris
2. Cursed
3. The Black
4. Of Blood and Tears
5. Dream and Wait
6. Antra Daemonium
7. Darkbringer
8. Mother of Shadows
9. Sleeping in Silence
10. The Great Darkness
11. Compendium Maleficarum

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