Review: “Stormcaller” by Krigsgrav

“When we started writing the songs that would make up Stormcaller, our intention was to create the most complete Krigsgrav album that took something from every era of the band, while still pushing our sound forward. A culmination of the blackest hues, doomiest of dirges, and most soaring of lead guitars. We think we achieved that, but we also wrote the best album of our career thus far. We trust that when you hear it, you’ll agree.” ~ Krigsgrav

Wrapped in cover artwork by the legendary Adam Burke (Unto Others, Gatecreeper, Cloak) at Nightjar Illustration, a new album from Texas based atmospheric Blackened Doom Metal act  Krigsgrav (“War Grave” in Swedish) in follow up to the stunning “Fires In The Fall” is an intriguing prospect. It sees the band go from a trio to a quartet with the return of bassist Wes Radvansky after seven years wandering the wilderness and is once again mixed and mastered at Wolfthrone Studios by Owe Inborr (Azaghal, Ondfødt, Kvaen). Radvansky is of course joined by guitarist and harsh vocalist Justin Coleman, drummer and clean vocalist David Sikora and lead guitarist Cody Daniels. The expectation is further musings on subjects ranging from Nature, Religion, Death, Philosophy and Beauty which have done them well over the past twenty odd years, the question is whether their sound has continued its evolution?

A violent storm of fierce vocals from Jens Rydén of Thyrfing intertwine with those from Coleman as “Huntress of the Fire Moon” unfurls its wings and takes to flight. Soaked in melancholic Scandinavian rooted sweeping guitar passages and intricate drum patterns, the contrast between beauty and the beast is laid bare for all to see and this first burnt offering makes for a real statement piece. The winds of change find the band in Post-Melodic Black Metal territory, running from the plague that has brought pestilence to the barren lands they once called home, the majestic lead guitars providing an epic beauty to the savage tale. Title track “Stormcaller” rattles the cages of the mind with Sikora’s blistering performance behind the kit, the urgency of this onslaught making it very much the soundscape to a thunderstorm by the sea on the blackest of nights. Daniels lead guitars are once again jaw dropping, the savage unclean vocals from Coleman reaching demonic heights. They don’t relent for a moment, even when the band offering up a melodic final passage, their throat splitting qualities chosen over the clean moments previously offered by Sikora.

The Scandinavian melancholia continues into “Twilight Fell” with some Folk Metal inspired passages that feel similar in some ways to the work of Agalloch or perhaps even Fen. Despite the brutal vocals, the storytelling nature of this beast is glorious and its clear that Coleman has put a lot of work into the lyric sheet, even if there are times when you’re going to need to read it to get the complete picture. That’s by no means a bad thing because on the first few listens you’ll be transfixed by the swirling atmospheres and eternal darkness, attempting to find light from the stars in the night sky and finding none. As with a couple of the tracks “None Shall Remember Your Name” has a dungeon crawler video game soundtrack charm to some of its rhythmic patterns, this one being the first to feature the mournful clean vocals of Sikora. Acoustic guitars are a thing of beauty in the mid section before the madness ascends into soaring leads for a seven and a half minute surpassing magnum opus that shimmers like gold in the dimmed lights.

Inspired by the legendary creature from Northern English folklore, “Bay of the Barghest” is a tale of a ghostly black dog with large teeth and claws, the bringer of death. Another portrait in Post-Black Metal majesty, this one adds yet more depth and texture with moments of glorious nuance that leap like termites from the woodwork over repeated listens. Its rich melodies like the reassuring warmth from a hot coffee cup in the cold light of a day that follows a sleepless night. Despite the darkness, there is a pomp and circumstance to “The Tonic of Wilderness” which makes it strangely uplifting. On this one Sikora’s aching clean vocal parts provide fleeting respite from Coleman’s brutality, his raspy demonic tones at arguably their most savage when met by the force the tornado of souls from the whirlwind of percussive battery and rumbling bass.

Pulling together all the elements to create something that ebbs and flows beautifully “Ghosts” is arguably the finest moment in this collection of burnt offerings. A deeply moving piece that captures the imagination with rage filled moments of blackened madness, it’s also soaked the bone with stunningly beautiful melodies laced with melancholia. By the end the band reach Harakiri for the Sky territory with their impeccable musicianship, the dedication to craft in creating this awe inspiring. An eight and a half minute piece that towers like a monument to misanthropy “Womb:Death:Dawn” offers the final death nail in the coffin with Sikora providing soaring clean vocal harmonies underneath the Coleman’s venomous blood gargling. The march of Funeral Doom serves as the inspiration for this one, however there are moments of Death Metal riffage as the quartet get creative, not to mention the 2001 Space Odyssey like keys. Not one but two solos round off the piece in style, the verve and swagger of the performances underlining the bands confidence in the strength of this record [8.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Huntress of the Fire Moon (ft. Jens Rydén of Thyrfing)
2. Stormcaller
3. Twilight Fell
4. None Shall Remember Your Name
5. Bay of the Barghest
6. The Tonic of Wilderness
7. Ghosts
8. Womb:Death:Dawn

“Stormcaller” by Krigsgrav is out 19th September 2025 via Willowtip Records and is available over at bandcamp