Review: “Mournhold” by Tyrannus

Over the past eight years Scottish Metal heads Tyrannus have plotted a course from Lovecraftian horror to anti-capitalist and anti-fascist rhetoric in their cryptic writings, creating a toxic blend of 80’s Thrash, Black Metal and Post-Punk in the process. Produced, recorded and mixed by Scott McLean at Neon Fable Studios in Edinburgh between January and June 2025, their sophomore album “Mournhold” is a piece of work we’ve waited 881 days for. Mastered by Brad Boatright (Obituary, Internal Bleeding, Creeping Death) at Audiosiege and adorned by artwork from Fabian Van Beek (Whispers of the Damned, Blind Monarch, Smoke Weaver) it surfaces from the black depths via Athens Greece based label True Cult Records. Something wicked this way comes…

Unlike 2022’s critically acclaimed album “Unslayable” this new affair was recorded as a five piece with mastermind Callum John Cant credited not only with lead vocals and guitars but also with almost all of the writing. Joining him are bassist Alistair Harley, guitarist Richard Codling, drummer Alasdair Dunn and keyboardist Scott McLean, the later of whom being the only one not to contribute any backing vocals. Building on the foundations of their aforementioned debut album in deliberately uncompromising fashion “Mournhold” begins with the Blackened Post-Punk of “Violent Inheritance“. A vicious little ditty which pushes the band further into Witch country Extreme Metal, it finds Cant wailing like a vitriolic banshee as the world grows darker around him. Dunn’s work behind the kit is seriously impressive as he switches seamlessly between passages of gallop and bursts of blasting with the odd moment of intricacy bringing to mind the work of Hellhammer in Mayhem. The solos add a sinister vibrancy, shinning like gold in the pale moon light while a melodic break offers a little melancholia with Scandinavian roots.

The journey down the left hand path continues with “Orbus Non Sufficit“, the quintet demonstrating that they’re not afraid of embracing longer instrumental passages as they captivate and enthral with this gripping affair that at times feels like an occult ritual. Gang chants and spoken word moments add to the ominous atmosphere, the darkness swirling like thick black smoke. Burning their bridges to light the way, a old school Death Metal riff ignites “Seize the Stars” which has a ravenous blood lust about it, the subtle tempo changes and sense of theatre driving down the darkness to let in a new horror. The surprise is that there is a weighty groove to this one, the old school whammy bar action taking us back to the bay and the darker side of 80’s Thrash for all the right reasons.

Harley’s distinctive Post-Punk bass line ushers in “Flesh Eternal” which has another monstrous performance from Dunn behind the kit, the melancholic guitars having an aching quality to them despite the Black Metal drumming. If anything this one brings recent works by Harakiri for the Sky to mind, the soul stirring beauty in the darkness of the lyrical narrative taking things to a different place. The last thing you might expect to follow that is something akin to “Kill ’em All” era Metallica playing Motorhead covers but that’s exactly what “Reignfall” sounds like. Urgent Blackened Thrash riffs with an air of Black n’ Roll about them fly in all directions, the virtuoso soloing utterly majestic while sounding like it was recorded in one take. The shift in dark energy is as crazy as the lyrics are catchy, the band changing the dynamic of the album by slamming their fists through a wall and yet doing it so well you can’t help but smile.

A seething mass of venomous vocals with Death Metal intensity and Black Metal stylings, title track “Mournhold” is very much the epitome of what Tyrannus want to create. Sonically they combine a few delicate and intricate moments with the plague wind like malevolent evil, ensuring that the discerning listener gets carried along with them rather than being swept away. An epic introduction to “Back to Grey” breathes new life into the rotting corpse before the band return to their adrenalised riffs and racing drum patterns, Cant’s vicious snarl adding a gnarly quality to the tune as it unfolds. Despite surpassing the seven and a half minute mark, this one captivates, holding the attention with longer instrumental passages between epic verses with hints at Folk Metal influences in the background. What’s interesting about this as an album is that its not necessarily more refined. The performances are tighter but the songs are actually more diverse, giving the record a dark yet playful quality that no one saw coming. It’s all the better for it. [8/10]

Track Listing

1. Violent Inheritance
2. Orbus Non Sufficit
3. Seize the Stars
4. Flesh Eternal
5. Reignfall
6. Mournhold
7. Back to Grey

“Mournhold” by Tyrannus is out 15th May 2026 via True Cult Records and is available over at bandcamp