Formed back in 2017, Manchester, UK based practitioners of the melodic black metal arts, Argesk, first came to the attention of the wider metal scene with the release of their debut album, Realm Of Eternal Night in 2020. An early release for the then fledgling Clobber Records, Realm Of Eternal Night garnered plaudits from across the globe, announcing Argesk as a band with huge potential and a wealth of promise. Since that debut release Argesk have worked tirelessly, supporting black metal royalty like Akercocke, Enthroned and Ghost Bath, taking their song writing skills to the next level and honing their musical abilities. Now they are ready to unveil the fruits of all their labour, with stunning second album Moonlight Pyromancy!
Whilst Realm Of Eternal Night was a strong album in its own right, Moonlight Pyromancy has left it far behind; lost in primal, formative darkness. As ‘Invocation’, the opening instrumental introduction to Moonlight Pyromancy plays, the mists of mystery descend, enfolding the listener in twilight atmosphere, sealing them away from the mundane world. And with ‘Servant Of Fire’ the album explodes…vicious vocal exhortations, searing riffs and devastating drums are bound in lush keyboard textures and captivating melodies, a magical marriage of dramatic emotion and sonic violence. Through the haunting ‘Black Castle Waltz’, the breathtaking splendour of ‘Wreathing Serpent’, the dreamscape set ablaze that is ‘Tempest’ to the concluding rush of forbidden power that is ‘Moonlight Pyromancy’, a glorious arcane fulfilment, Argesk show how magnificently they have grown. They have progressed, unafraid, down new dark paths, revealing melodic awareness and narrative mastery that Realm Of Eternal Night merely hinted at. An additional gift is presented after the fiery finale of ‘Moonlight Pyromancy’ – a reprise of ‘Black Castle Waltz’ featuring guest vocals from ex-Hecate Enthroned front man Dean Seddon, reunited once more with Argesk drummer Bob Kendrick who spent some sixteen years in the Hecate ranks. Moonlight Pyromancy is an accomplished and enthralling work of blistering intensity, instilled with high emotion and beguiling magic, a play that enfolds in a dream world of Argesk’s creation.
Given a rare depth of sound by the combined recording and mixing talents of Chris Taylor (Burial, Steel Mage, Beyond Salvation etc) and the vast mastering experience of Chris Fielding (Electric Wizard, Fen, Winterfylleth etc), Moonlight Pyromancy will be released on October 17th by Argesk’s new label – Matriarch Records. Adorned in the beautiful artwork of Aghy Purakusuma (Pure Wrath, Morwinyon, Firienholt etc) Moonlight Pyromancy is a soul stealing work of black metal art.
Find out more about Argesk here
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Visit Matriarch Records here
