Heraldic Blaze - Monument of Will

The album opens with flutes that weave through the heavier passages, establishing a ceremonial tone that persists throughout. The production, handled by Peregrinus, finds equilibrium between rawness and grandeur. There’s grit in the riffing and blast beat assaults, yet also clarity in the layered melodies and acoustic embellishments. Where many black metal acts invoke the medieval through costume or concept, Heraldic Blaze achieve it sonically, through modal chord progressions, stately pacing, and a harmonic language evocative of both courtly pageantry and battlefield lament.

‍

Argent Pale’s vocals sit high and cutting, channeling anguish without excess. His flute contributions are not decorative but structural, bridging transitions and deepening atmosphere. The songwriting alternates between narrative arcs and cyclical repetitions, mirroring the ritualistic cadence of folklore. Tracks like “The Proffered Word,” “Harken the Peals of May,” and “The Slaying of Ophis” demonstrate a balance between violence and splendor that feels earned, not constructed.

Monument of Will surpasses mere homage to acts like @MysticForest or @Eikenskaden. It embodies a continuation of that lineage, expanding medieval black metal into something folkloric, luminous, and emotionally articulate. Released through Purity Through Fire, it stands as one of the year’s most complete artistic statements in atmospheric extreme metal 💀

9/10 🤘�

Words by @FuegoCasa 

In collaboration with @headbangersaustralia

‍

‍