Vígljós - Tome II: Ignis Sacer (2025)

Black metal has long since escaped from or expanded upon the thematic confines of Satanism and nihilism to embrace so lyrical ideas you might not expect, stemming from the mass migration towards nature themes which was present almost from its beginnings. Whether it's fictional, historical, personal or naturalist, there's an enormous range of topics out there from Tolkien to mining, sewage systems to the biographies of European dignitaries. So it's fascinating if not surprising that we've got a band revolved around classic apiculture (beekeeping), complete with some of the most unique stage costumes we've seen in awhile; not just more black masks over leather jackets, or religious vestments, this is more on the level of distinction achieved by a Grima or Portal.

Musically, they are a little more orthodox, raw and seething black metal slathered in higher pitched screaming that mirrors the more suicidal DSBM of years past, circa Silencer or Burzum but I'd have to argue that these are even more unhinged and wilder whenever they're not focused into a more traditional snarl. The riffing is rustic and airy. Sometimes a little more dissonant and frenzied like the buzzing of a plethora of their favorite flying insects, but usually it has a more spacious, countryside/mountainside appeal which the vocals then spew all over. The drumming is tinny and laid back for the most part, but that actually suits the compositions quite well, because the guitars do most of the hive-lifting. Often they will bust out into their own version of some old black metal groove ("Delusions of Grandeur") and I really like these riffs, they put their own atmospheric spin on things and I think it's that theme of these Medieval beekeepers and what world they should be surrounded in during their travails that informs the choices.

So we've got appeal here to anyone enjoying the modern masked Euro black metal bands from Gaerea to Mgla to Batuskha, depressive atmospheric BM like Austere from Australia, which used to give me a similar feel on their older material. The use of Mellotron here creates a little bit of dungeon synth theme on intros or threaded against the harsher black metal progressions, so I could also recommend this to anyone who likes it when bands blend all that together (Elffor), or the pastoral stuff (Grift, Saiva), the Medieval black metal that is so prominent out of France (Aorhlac, etc). It's a good listen, harsh enough for purists but also spacious and captivating and atmospheric, they don't just survive on their gimmick alone but back it up with music that feels appropriately thematic and cognizant of its genre, melodically detailed and rewarding across numerous listens. The vocals might be a hurdle for some, but again it's a choice that contributes to the transportation they offer to a world where men cultivate honey in thick robes and Medieval masks of wicker and straw.

Verdict: Win [8.25/10]

https://vigljos.bandcamp.com/