Swedish balck/death metal veterans THULCANDRA are back! Since its foundation in 2003 by Steffen Kummerer (mastermind of Obscura), THULCANDRA has established themselves in the European extreme metal scene. Now, the black death metal outfit is about to release their fourth studio album after six years of silence. A Dying Wish was produced, mixed and mastered at Unisound Studio by the renowned Dan Swanö (Dissection, Opeth, Bloodbath, Katatonia and more) and will be released on October 29, 2021 via Napalm Records. It’s again a journey back in time to the origins of the genre, as it was musically and visually shaped by bands like Dissection, Entombed, Sacramentum and Unanimated.
On their new album, A Dying Wish, the four-piece around Steffen Kummerer once again draws the listener into dark and cold soundscapes. This is also reflected by the icy-blue cover artwork as on their previous albums (Fallen Angel’s Dominion [2010], Under a Frozen Sun [2011], Ascension Lost [2015]). Opener "Funeral Pyre" swiftly showcases clear direction: a calm intro is followed by freezing riffs, grim growls and powerful drums. THULCANDRA spans a dark arc between acoustic interludes and harsh blackened death metal parts. The quiet interlude "In Bleak Misery" leads into "A Shining Abyss", which instantly pulls the listener down with rich blast beats. Dramatic riffing and the growls of Steffen Kummerer create dark and dense walls of sound, leading into quiet, but no less atmospheric parts. Stormy up-tempo tracks like "The Slivering Silver" and "Devouring Darkness" offer strong leads, driving riffs and engaging drums that keep tension at a high level. THULCANDRA create a special accent with "Nocturnal Heresy" by incorporating doom metal passages into their ice-cold storm.
A Dying Wish is a detailed album that combines clashing guitars and epic mid-tempo moments with discreet acoustic guitars and rapid outbursts to create a versatile and rich sound. It’s an homage to classic death metal, performed at an inarguably technically proficient level, keeping the tradition of Jon Nötveidt's Dissection sound alive and worthy.