Chapter II by Ozonzagith

Romanian based artist Ozonzagith’s EP Chapter II, released in July of 2024, is a welcome addition to a catalog of depressive black metal that specializes in creating a melancholic atmosphere. Gloomy guitar echoes the pangs of despondency in the vocals while the drums carry enough energy to keep one engaged throughout the 20-minute run of the EP.

Coming from Australian label Schaden Collective they join a roster of new voices who are to polarize the musical landscape. Chapter II is as bleak as it comes with a distinctive flare for desolation by paying homage to other DSBM forerunners.

We begin this traipse into the crestfallen man of the sole musician Φ with the opening track Nostalgic Nights. This aptly titled entry has the bittersweet tinge of late summer nights half-remembered but, ever present. The droning guitar brings the listener into a welcome lull while painful wails color the would-be serenity. It devolves into something more diabolical with a stronger tone as the song carries one. This would be my recommended track from this album as it has a broader appeal for lovers of the genre.

Accompanied Only By Childhood Memories follows a similar blueprint taking more time to build up to encroaching climax. The drums here are more of a standout, a little chaotic but add an element of energy.

Harsh Summer marks our midpoint and delves more into an almost doom aspect. It’s slower allowing itself to build upon the morose structure. There isn’t a lot of deviation between songs, they follow a pattern of familiarity. Though the quiet break is a welcome change at the midpoint of this track. Eventually, when the drums kick back in feels more akin to a journey rather than falling into the rut of simplicity.

Never Was, Never Will Be is an instrumental which I found myself enjoying more so than I usually do. As someone who admittedly finds myself bored with the majority of instrumentals this managed to hold my attention the entirety of the way through.

The last track is ? which is soft spoken-word over a similar guitar tone as the beginning. While I do have trouble making out the words it does seem like a fitting conclusion to the EP.

Ozonzgaith’s Chapter II is in a word: solid. However, my two sticking points that hold me back from rating it higher are repetition which makes it hard to differentiate one song to the next, and distortion on the vocals that I wish they’d bring down just a hair. But overall I enjoyed this one. It gives me that deep, dark despair that I crave and lets me slip into that space for a short spell.

Ozonzgaith’s Chapter II is available on Bandcamp for purchase. I implore you all to go and check out this EP for yourselves and let me know what your opinion is. Until then, hails or something.