Ordinul Negru "Sorcery Of Darkness" CD

The band's seventh album; amazing Occult Black Metal from Romania, atmospheric and evil, traditional and modern at the same time, a must for fans of Wolves in the Throne Room, Altar of Plagues, Neurosis or Burzum.

Ordinul Negru are surely one of the better known and more prolific Romanian black metal bands. There latest EP as well as their most recent full length “Faustian Nights” are prime examples of punishing yet well thought out black metal. At the beginning Ordinul Negru went for a bit harsher sound and it probably was their 2015 full length “Sorcery of Darkness” where they finally came to their own. Combining the unforgiveness of older works like “Lifeless” with some melodramatic songwriting moments over just three songs with a total running time of 39 minutes makes up for a demanding and rewarding listen.
There are any number of factors that could be listed to describe why this album is so excellent, but the most immediate is the record’s sheer listenability. Black metal isn’t what I would typically describe as an inviting style of music, but Ordinul Negru have here created a sound that is both extremely hard-hitting but still melodic. The band takes care that their tracks never lose their sense of atmosphere, intensity, and aggression with all these attributes balanced against each other.
The lead harmonies and main themes of the lengthy tracks have kind of a stoic feeling, leading to the effect that the songs tend to drag on a bit. Ambient and more laid-back sections are placed as breaks, adding more depth and atmosphere. The whole record can be seen like a natural synthesis of mournful sounds and disparate styles all combined in one bold, enlightened display of unbound creativity. In some way it feels more like a surreal journey to realms of another dimension.
The third and final song “In ceas de noapte” is kind of their magnum opus, with the lyrics switching from English to Romanian (I assume) and German. This song is separated into different parts, and like it is the case with most such epics you either like this kind of approach or not. When consumed in the right circumstances this track has the potential to hypnotize the listener and provide a listening experience which is much more than your average black metal song. The ups and downs and the interaction of the various moods and tempos have been carefully crafted.
In the end “Sorcery of Darkness” is definitely a very well performed and decently produced piece of black metal. For me personally this album is even more than that, as some of the harmonies and build-ups here are exactly what kindled my interest for black metal in the first place. If you are not familiar with Ordinul Negru this album is a good starting place and in case you want to dive a bit deeper their label Loud Rage music has not only this one and their newer work, but also re-released their older stuff.

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