Album Review: Tombstone – To the Existence of Light (Gutter Prince Cabal)

Hailing from Jakarta, Indonesian black metal duo Tombstone’s sophomore album ‘To the Existence of Light’ will be released on March 1st, 2023.

Black metal drawn from the dominion of the old gods, Tombstone’s new album focuses on the classic sound of foul and choking darkness. Smothering hate and devilish horror, it’s seven tracks of brash and brutish black metal, but with elements that give it a fresher feel.

Prominent riffs and melodic tones, instrumentally, Tombstone make interesting adaptions to the formula. All while the vocals roar and howl with undiluted blackened intensity. Hypnotic at times and aggressively distracting at others. Across its runtime, it draws you in with its other-worldly, ethereal furore. Each track given layers upon layers of detail, all while Tombstone rip and tear with all the ferocity of a wild and starving beast.

This is not a short album. With tracks passing the six, seven, eight, and even ten-minute mark. There’s a lot to take in here and the more listens given to the album, the more the dark depths are brought into the light. Just don’t be surprised if what is illuminated terrifies you to your core.

It’s hard to make attention-grabbing black metal, unless the technique is changed to such a degree that its barely recognisable. So, credit where credit is due, Tombstone’s To the Existence of Light feels like it’s likely to please both the old and new school of blackened fans. Powerful and heavy like the old gods demand, but atmospheric and melodic enough to draw in the disbelievers too.

Tombstone – To the Existence of Light Track Listing:

1. Wolfsbane
2. Disillusionize
3. Vain
4. Into The Woods
5. Guardians Of Land And Sea
6. Far To The North
7. To The Existence Of Light

Links

Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Gutter Prince Cabal