Black Metal has always been a genre prone to evolution, bending its own rigid rules while still clinging to an aura of tradition. Ukrainian project Nathreism’s debut album, Archaic Dreams, is an example of this tension—a record that wears the label of “Heathen Black Metal” but pushes in a direction that feels far more melodic, symphonic, and atmospheric than the genre’s purists might expect.

What Nathreism offers here isn’t corpse-painted orthodoxy but a sweeping, immersive soundscape that feels more like a single dreamlike journey than a collection of isolated tracks.

From the very beginning, Archaic Dreams presents itself as a continuous experience. The album flows almost seamlessly, with each song bleeding into the next, giving the impression of one vast composition rather than a stop-start sequence. This cohesion is one of the record’s greatest strengths—it feels like the listener is being carried along a stream of sound, each twist and turn revealing new textures while never shattering the atmosphere. In this way, it owes more to symphonic and atmospheric black metal traditions than to the jagged chaos of early Darkthrone or Mayhem.

One of the most striking aspects of the record is the vocal approach. Nathreism’s frontman does not resort to the high-pitched shrieks or guttural bellows that many would expect from a black metal release. Instead, his delivery is raw and forceful, but closer to a form of anguished, almost chant-like singing. It’s not melodic in the conventional sense, but it’s far removed from the genre’s archetypal rasp.

This vocal style gives the record a unique character, simultaneously human and ritualistic, as if the voice is an invocation rather than just another instrument in the mix.

Instrumentally, Archaic Dreams avoids many of Black Metal’s clichés. The tremolo-picked guitars and relentless blast beats that dominate much of the genre are largely absent here. In their place are heavier, more deliberate riffs, layered carefully to create momentum without dissolving into noise. The drumming is purposeful rather than frantic for the sake of frantic, serving the songs rather than trying to overwhelm them. This restraint allows other elements—particularly the synths—to shine.

The use of keys is tasteful and atmospheric, never tipping into overblown bombast, but giving the music a shimmering, ethereal quality that complements the earthy weight of the guitars.

Lyrically and thematically, the album carries us through subjects like loss, fire, sorrow, and memoryloss, fire, sorrow, and memory.

Yet the sound itself transcends genre labels. It’s not folk-driven in the way many pagan metal bands are, nor is it raw and abrasive in the orthodox black metal mold. Instead, Nathreism has carved a space somewhere in between, blending atmosphere, melody, and heaviness into something distinct.

If there is a criticism to be made, it is that the album’s continuous structure occasionally works against it. The lack of sharp contrast between songs can make it difficult for individual moments to stand out, and some listeners may find themselves longing for a sudden eruption of chaos or aggression to break the flow. That said, this is clearly not what Archaic Dreams is aiming for. Its strength lies in immersion, not shock.

Overall, Nathreism has delivered a compelling debut with Archaic Dreams. It is not traditional black metal, nor does it pretend to be. Instead, it is a carefully crafted, atmospheric work that pushes genre boundaries while maintaining a dark, evocative spirit. It may not satisfy purists, but for those seeking something that feels both familiar and refreshingly different, this is an album well worth exploring.

Archaic Dreams is available now via Ashen Dominion.

CHOICE CUT: Sorrow of the Burning Land

RATING: 4 OUT OF 5

RATING SYSTEM:

• 0: Fucking Shit
• 1: Shit
• 2: Not Bad Shit
• 3: Pretty Good Shit
• 4: Amazing Fucking Shit
• 5: The Best Shit You Will Ever Hear

PRESS SOURCE: Cátia C./Against PR.