Label: Ars Obscura
Genre: Black Metal
Length: 34:49
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Algol is a black metal one-man band from Buenos Aires, Argentina founded in 2020. Since its formation, Algol released Hidden in Eternity in 2022, then The Foreshadows of Unholy Anger in 2023, and finally a third album, The Black Sands of Madness in 2024, which is the focus of this review. To be honest, I haven't listened to much of this band before, apart from their second album once or twice.
Released via Ars Obscura in digital format on 23 December 2024, The Black Sands of Madness consists of ten tracks totalling 34 minutes and 49 seconds. From the very first seconds, we're plunged into direct, melodic black metal. The guitars are fast, the drums follow the rhythm but remain discreet (they rarely stand out), and the melodies are slightly muffled. The production is quite good, allowing the different instruments to stand out. The an angry vocal feature prominently in the mix, sometimes reminiscent of Darkthrone, an influence particularly noticeable on In The Relentless March of Entropy.
Some passages particularly stand out. For example, I liked the rhythm at 2:58 on In the Flames of a Funeral Pyre. I also liked the melody that kicks in at 2:16 on Sweeping Away the Veils of Ignorance and continues right through to the end. On Nothing but Silence, the rhythm alternates between fast passages and calmer ones, with a rousing guitar sequence that makes you want to headbang.
Abyssal Dominion of Shadows stands out for its obscur introduction and its rhythm, which accelerates first at 0:55, then again at 1:08, adding to the track's intensity. This song has several captivating sections, and the vocals reach their peak. I particularly liked its well thought-out structure.
Among my highlights on this recording are Where Shadows Whisper Secrets of Ancient Sorrows and The Black Sands of Madness, which stand out for their frantic, direct rhythm. In live show, these tracks would leave no one indifferent. Synchronizing with the Endless Dark is my favourite track on the album. Its dark, eerie soundscape captivated me, and at times I felt I could hear a Satyricon influence in the songwriting, particularly at 1:37 where the resemblance is most noticeable.
This album doesn't reinvent the genre, but for those who appreciate this type of Norwegian-influenced black metal, The Black Sands of Madness is sure to please. Algol deliver a solid, effective opus, faithful to the essence of the genre.