Album Review: Tundra – The Darkening Sky (Corrupted Flesh Records)

The Darkening Sky is the the fourth full-length of Italian Black Metal band Tundra. Previously self-released, this raw manifesto of trve underground Black Metal finally receives the long-overdue label attention. Vinyl-specialized German underground authority Corrupted Flesh is teaming up with US label Bitter Misery to put these misanthropic hymns of death and decay. Available on March 4th, 2022.

As black metal as it comes, there’s nothing complicated or ground-breaking about The Darkening Sky. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t thoroughly enjoyable and captivatingly intense.

After a long, chilling, and light melodic intro (End of An Era), things ramp up for the title track. Where Tundra unleash the full power of their icy horror and deliver a scathing, noisy battering that is heavily rooted in the old-school of the infamous blackened sound. It’s wild, it’s disordered, it’s destructive and it’s like stepping back in time. Take that for what you will but fans of this kind of black metal will be in their element.

It’s what drives Tundra and the result can be painfully experienced with the likes of Molested, Slave and Master, The Forsaken Lament and Ghostwood. Track after track of bristling and brash savagery. You love to hear it. Although touches of haunting and dangerous sounding atmosphere and melody help break things up and stop it becoming monotonous.

To hammer that home, the finale of Aftermath is also heavy on the atmosphere but far shorter in length. The experience has been an exhausting one but one to remember.

Tundra – The Darkening Sky Full Track Listing:

1. End of An Era
2. The Darkening Sky
3. Molested
4. Slave and Master
5. The Forsaken Lament
6. Ghostwood
7. Aftermath

Links

Bandcamp | Corrupted Flesh