The atmospheric black metal band Shylmagoghnar from Limburg, The Netherlands. This two-man band produces quality black metal with some atmospheric pieces. This is their debut album and it contains 9 songs.

 

First song is an instrumental song called 'I Am The Abyss' It has a beautiful melodic guitar lick throughout the song. You will notice it when you listen to it. The song is filled with emotions from both band members. Angry emotions but also relief. A lot of melodic licks are put in this song which isn't annoying because it really fits in perfectly with the rest of the song.

 

Then there is the title-track of the album 'Emergence'.   Emergence is a fast but still melodic. It reminds me of some Coldworld songs. The guitar is really universal. You can use it on a Amon Amarth album and kick ass and you can use it both on black metal and a thrash metal album however it has an evil and raw sound to it. So it fits perfectly in 'Emergence'.

 

'Edin In Ashes'. The name of the next song on this album. This is more like modern black metal. It is has many difficult bits and it is hard to put it all together but Shylmagoghnar managed to do this on a high level. The eerie sound to the vocals makes this song a black metal song. With a different singer this would be a good thrash metal song.

 

 

 

Next one is 'This World Shall Fall'. It starts with a heavy bass intro and synthesizer which easily could have been in a horror movie. The vocals remind me (especially on this song) of Shagrath (Dimmu Borgir). You can see this song as a 4 minute long intro for the next song but since this is progressive black metal you don't give this song its credits it needs. For example Carach Angren does the same thing.

 

'Squandered Paradise'. The fifth song isn't the most exciting song that is on this album but it has my attention because it has some amazing melodic guitar licks.

 

Slow, heavy, grim that defines 'Eternal Forest' which is the next song. With a rather misplaced intro solo the song begins. You can say that this song sums up the whole genre of progressive black metal. It could be possible to call it special and you certainly should because if you are not familiar with progressive metal, you will be in for a wild musical ride.

 

Next one up is called 'The Cosmic Tide'. A musical rollercoaster full of amazing drumming and beautiful placed synthesizers. A song that just fits. With this song the atmospheric part of  Shylmagoghnar really comes out of its cave.

 

Second to last song listens to the name 'A New Dawn'. Immediately I think of the band which has the same name. This is more of a catchy black metal song which most of the modern black metal bands have.

 

The last but certainly not least is called 'The Sun No Longer'. This could be movie music. Funny thing is, is that I also really love movie soundtracks and somehow I can imagine this in a beautiful medieval movie. I really like this last song.

 

 

 

Final verdict: I was never a big fan of progressive music. Shylmagoghnar calls this Progressive Atmospheric Black Metal. I'd rather call this Experimental Metal. The album started promising but after 6/7 songs it became rather unsurprising. Shylmagoghnar has put the focus more on the progressive side than the black metal side, which is in some ways good but it has been done too much. This album would be appreciated by fans of black and progressive metal. 7 out of 10