Hello, my fellow black metal heads welcome back to Black Metal Archives! I’m Sean, and today we’re diving into a melancholic, atmospheric journey with Epitaph, the latest release from Tristhet. This album weaves haunting melodies, acoustic passages, and scathing black metal riffs into a deeply introspective experience. Let’s break it down.

Tristhet, fronted by another Sean (Williams), who handles everything on the record, leans heavily into the melodic and folk-infused side of black metal. Epitaph balances icy tremolo-picked guitars with somber acoustic interludes, creating a vast, immersive soundscape. The production is raw but clear, allowing the layers of instrumentation to shine without losing that essential black metal grit. The vocals—distant, ghostly shrieks—echo through the album like a voice lost in the wind, reinforcing its themes of decay and sorrow.

Standout Tracks:

• “At Summer’s End“ opens the album with a slow-burning acoustic passage before launching into mournful, sweeping tremolo riffs. The track embodies a nostalgic farewell to brighter days, both lyrically and musically, setting the melancholic tone for the album.
• “The Black Falls“ stands out with its interplay between folk-inspired guitar melodies and relentless black metal aggression. The song’s shifting dynamics feel like a descent into darkness, with the music ebbing and flowing like crashing waves.
• “Black Mist Upon Wooded Hills” is perhaps the most haunting piece on the record. The acoustic sections are ethereal, while the harsher elements invoke a sense of despair as if wandering through a fog-covered graveyard at dusk.
• The title track, “Epitaph,” serves as the album’s climax. Nearly 12 minutes long, it moves through layers of bleak soundscapes, alternating between desolate melodies and furious tremolo bursts. The lyrics speak of wildfire consuming past despair, painting a grim yet poetic image of finality.

Tristhet crafts a sound that sits comfortably within the atmospheric and folk-influenced black metal sphere, drawing comparisons to bands like Raat, Crow Black Sky, and Falls of Rauros. However, they carve their own niche by blending raw aggression with intricate acoustic work, making Epitaph a compelling listen for those who appreciate both ferocity and beauty in black metal.

[Epitaph is a masterclass in melancholic black metal. It’s an album that rewards patient listening, drawing you deeper into its bleak but beautiful world with each spin. If you’re a fan of atmospheric and folk-infused black metal, this is one you don’t want to miss.

Let me know what you think of Epitaph after you stream it in full on their bandcamp page in the comments.

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Hails!