(written by Islander)
The Barcelona-based extreme metal band Gjallarhorn’s Wrath trace their roots to the Spanish atmospheric black metal band Oblivion, which was founded in 2001. After making a strong mark, that earlier group disbanded, but in time the core members reunited. With the addition of vocalist Alex, Lord Ashler moved to bass, Javi Iron returned to handle drums, keys, and composition, and Arash continued as lead guitarist.
Under the name Gjallarhorn’s Wrath, they have recorded a debut album entitled The Silver Key that’s set for release by Non Serviam Records on September 5th. As the label explains, the album blends “the raw aggression of blackened death metal with the grandeur of orchestral and cinematic elements”.
Last month we hosted the premiere of a transfixing video for a sonic spectacle from The Silver Key named “Wiccan Wyrd“, and today we follow that with another riveting video. This one presents the album’s second single, “A Silent Scream“.
Lyrically, “A Silent Scream” narrates the torment and desolation caused by a lost love. Visually, it includes the beautiful dancer Marzena Suder reflecting the song’s turbulently harrowing words in her writhing and contorting movements and agonized facial expressions.
As for the song itself, it’s a multi-faceted and tempo-dynamic experience, much as Non Serviam has described. It brings punishing death metal punch and heavily rumbling undercurrents, scathing blackened riffage and blasting drums, and an explosive amalgam of savage howls and scorching screams.
It also incorporates ethereally glimmering keys and expansive phases of daunting symphonic grandeur, as well as orchestral strings that are both sorrowful and frantically anguished. The music’s power and intensity ebb and flow along with the pacing, creating moods of fury, agony, and tragic majesty, like a piece of musical theater.
The video was directed and edited by Javi Iron, and additional credits appear with the video.
Non Serviam will release The Silver Key on digipak CD, vinyl LP, and digital formats, and they recommend it for fans of: Mgła, Gaerea, SepticFlesh, Dimmu Borgir, Gorgoroth, Dissection, and Tribulation. Pre-order opportunities are available now.
Below, we’ve also included the video for “Wiccan Wyrd“, in case you missed it.
PRE-ORDER:
CD: https://www.non-serviam-records.com/products/gjallarhorns-wrath-the-silver-key-digipak
VINYL: https://www.non-serviam-records.com/products/gjallarhorns-wrath-the-silver-key-vinyl
DIGITAL: https://non-serviam-records.bandcamp.com/album/the-silver-key
GJALLARHORN’S WRATH:
https://www.facebook.com/Gjallarhorns.Wrath/
https://www.instagram.com/gjallarhornwrathband