Label: Whispering Voice Records
Genre: Symphonic Black Metal
Length: 36:14
Erzsébet, a symphonic black metal band from Barcelona, Spain, formed in 2020, has quickly made waves in the underground scene. After their 2021 EP The Blasphemous Lady, they’re back with their debut full-length album, Six Hundred and Fifty, dropped in 2024 via Whispering Voice Records. This album brings together darkness, aggression, and intense atmospheres, led by ferocious female vocals that’ll definitely remind some of Defacing God.
Complex and Haunting Songwriting
The opening track Redemption of Evil hits hard right from the start, throwing you into a creepy atmosphere with eerie keyboards. As the guitars and drums come in on The Chest with Thousand Spikes, the tension ramps up, and the vocals are nothing short of savage. The transition into the next track, cranks things up even more with chaotic riffs and brutal screams that demand your attention. Erzsébet nails the balance between unrelenting aggression and building tension. Crystalline Sparkless Bluish Skin is a perfect example. It starts off slow and dark, only to explode into fast, razor-sharp guitars, blast beats, and wild vocal screams.What makes Six Hundred and Fifty stand out is how Erzsébet mixes in calm, atmospheric moments with pure black metal fury. Spectral Cortège opens the second half of the album with a ritualistic vibe, leading into Daughters of Zémans, a track filled with intricate arrangements and deep, dark themes. The vocals here are next-level, switching between piercing screams and deep growls, capturing pure, raw emotion. The album also throws in choral vocals, especially on Domina Vestra, which adds richness and depth to the sound. This variety in vocal techniques keeps things interesting, making each track feel different while still fitting into the album’s overall vibe.
Standout Tracks
One of the highlights is The Cage, the Torch and Corpses, which mixes a heavy, oppressive atmosphere with a mix of fast and slow sections. The spoken word parts combined with haunting keyboards make it even more sinister. The instrumental Lunar Liturgy is another killer track, dragging you into a dark, atmospheric abyss. The interplay between guitars and keyboards, along with pounding drums, creates a suffocating, evil vibe.
Somewhere in Csejthe is one of the album’s most intense moments, with a perfect mix of brutality and chaos. The vocals are insane, matching the wildness of the music perfectly. My personal favorite is Wherefore, which wraps up the album perfectly. It moves from eerie spoken parts to full-on black metal madness, bringing together all the key elements of the album—atmosphere, brutality, and tension.
Dark, Immersive, and Ferocious
Six Hundred and Fifty is a powerful mix of aggression and atmosphere. Erzsébet has crafted an album that not only shows off their technical skills but also pulls you into a dark, immersive world. symphonic lack metal worshippers, especially those who appreciate a layered and expansive soundscape, are gonna like this one.