TELOMYRAS - DUSKFALL

Distorted guitar lines open 'Reckoning', immediately locking into a forward-driving gallop powered by tight interplay between guitars and drums. Moments later, Sammie’s vocals enter the mix, her warm and inviting tone adding an unexpected contrast to the initial weight of the track. While her clean delivery feels restrained at first, the dynamic quickly shifts as she unleashes harsh growls, injecting the performance with the missing intensity. Supported by forceful drumming, inventive guitar melodies, and a thick, grounding bassline, the track establishes itself as a strong and impactful opener. Next up is 'Burden', a track that stands out through its strong instrumental cohesion. Fast, forceful drumming locks in tightly with the dual-guitar attack, while the bass adds a clearly defined weight underneath it all. A well-placed solo introduces an extra layer of depth, with the guitars almost taking on a narrative role as they weave through the composition. Sammie’s high notes carry real power and presence, though her clean vocal passages in the verses feel slightly more restrained in comparison. 'Witch' opens in a heavy, slow-burning atmosphere, with drums and guitars reinforcing an almost suffocating sense of weight in every note. As the track unfolds, the momentum builds effectively, gradually increasing the pace while maintaining that underlying heaviness. The vocal delivery feels most fully realized here so far, fitting the track’s shifting dynamics with confidence. The composition itself stands out in particular-engaging and rhythmically compelling, to the point where it naturally pulls you in and keeps you moving along with it. 

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'Harbinger (...the Eternal Night)' initially leans into a classic heavy metal feel, driven by a strong sense of tradition and structure. A dual vocal passage around the two-minute mark feels slightly out of place at first, though that impression quickly fades once Sammie shifts into growls during a slow, heavy bridge section that anchors the track more convincingly. Supported by a weighty bass presence and consistently strong instrumental interplay, the band once again demonstrates tight cohesion, with each element working effectively as part of a unified whole. The title track 'Duskfall' unfolds with delicate clean guitar melodies that naturally flow into tender, expressive singing, creating a deeply melancholic and atmospheric mood. The addition of a choir enhances the warmth of the arrangement, giving the song a spacious, almost dreamlike quality—an invitation to close your eyes and drift with it. Even the guitar solo remains restrained and careful, serving the emotion rather than overpowering it. Just as the track seems to settle into this fragile beauty, it gradually swells into something more forceful, with heavier drumming and more aggressive guitar work bringing it to a powerful, ballad-like conclusion. The album closes with 'Begin the End', a final statement that once again showcases everything the band does best. It feels like a call to arms-urgent, commanding, and full of forward momentum. Crushing drumming, soaring high-register vocals, tightly woven dual guitars, and a strong, driving bassline come together in a cohesive and powerful finale. Personally, it stands out as one of the highlights of the record. While a few more growled sections across the album might have added extra edge and grit, it never feels like a real shortcoming-just a missed opportunity in an otherwise strong release. 

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TELOMYRAS delivers a strong and highly ambitious full-length debut with "Duskfall", confidently blending classic heavy metal foundations with extreme metal intensity. The band’s identity comes through clearly in the contrast between Sammie Gorham’s operatic vocals, harsh growls, and the tightly executed dual-guitar work, all driven by a powerful and precise rhythm section. While a few vocal passages could benefit from more consistent force and the balance between clean and extreme elements isn’t always seamless, the album still impresses through its energy, compositional variety, and clear technical skill. Overall, "Duskfall" is a promising and passionate statement full of potential.

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SCORE 7/10

REVIEWED BY SWAMPY