Album Review: Old Corpse Road – On Ghastly Shores Lays The Wreckage Of Our Lore (Trollzorn)

Old Corpse Road return with their new album ‘On Ghastly Shores Lays the Wreckage of Our Lore’ to breathe new life into the dark and fecund myths and legends of England.

The consummate storytellers have scoured the annuls of the English Isles and unearthed eight treasures from the wrecked ships and carcasses of the damned souls washed upon the tide and woven then into haunting and atmospheric black metal.

Old Corpse Road have carved their name into the UK black metal scene by producing classic, yet unique British black metal based on the dark folklore of Britain. The Darlington based 5 piece formed in 2007 and take their name from a coffin road in the Lake District.

On Ghastly Shores Lays the Wreckage of Our Lore will be released on May 15th 2020 via Trollzorn.

Much loved and much respected, at least within the world of black metal, Old Corpse Road are a name that symbolise everything great about British atmospheric black metal. A star amongst the clouds and a major influence on many up and coming bands.

Now, as darkness consumes Britain, Old Corpse Road take the focus to the lore and stories of old. Beginning with the heavy atmosphere of the title track, the guitars ring out loud with a short and shouted declaration at the end delivering the exclamation point.

Harbingers of Death (Voices in the Tempest) is very much a black metal song. Starting with a very fast, very heavy and very nasty pace. Although it does quickly evolve into a more refined and prettier piece of music. Old Corpse Road layering it with impressive gothic vibes similar to an early Cradle of Filth song.

Expanding and emerging with truly a dark melody, Black Ship is one that conjures up images of darkened seas and eerie things emerging from fog. Horrible things that make you collapse in terror while marvelling at the scope of it all. Trickling dark wonder amongst the ferocious black metal that Old Corpse Road play, this is truly an epic.

Less of that in Sea Fire, even though it is over 8 minutes long. Instead we get a track much more focused on blasting out blistering blackened heaviness. No complaints though as Old Corpse Road are such a powerful force.

Aware that such intensity needs time to breathe, As Waves Devour Their Carcasses makes grand use of a keyboard with ghastly and croaking vocals. Emotive and dark, it’s an effective break from the ferocity before Demons of the Farne says enough of that and goes for the jugular. An exceptional track, the drops into gothic melody and whispered vocals can’t hide the underlying threat of it all.

Nothing though, absolutely nothing heard so far will have prepared you for the penultimate track, The Ghosts of the Ruinous Dunstanburgh Castle. Over 16 minutes long, this is Old Corpse Road at their most impressive as they tell a glorious tale and take us on an unforgettable journey. Dark and mysterious at times, unsparingly brutal at others. The switches from bludgeoning heaviness to beautiful passages of melodious and natural sounding atmospheres is a something to behold.

How do you follow that? With a sorrowful finale that leaves a lasting impression. WaterLore is beautiful and very emotional, the perfect way to close out an album that beggars belief for how varied it is. All while staying true to Old Corpse Road’s atmospheric black metal roots. This might very well be the best album the band has released.

Old Corpse Road – On Ghastly Shores Lays the Wreckage of Our Lore Full Track Listing:

1. Ghastly Shores Lays the Wreckage of Our Lore
2. Harbingers of Death (Voices in the Tempest)
3. Black Ship
4. Sea Fire
5. As Waves Devour Their Carcasses
6. Demons of the Farne
7. The Ghosts of the Ruinous Dunstanburgh Castle
8. WaterLore

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