Stormkeep – The Nocturnes of Iswylm
Release Date: 12th June 2026
Label: Vesperian
Bandcamp
Genre: Symphonic Black Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Goth Metal.
FFO: Emperor, Dimmu Borgir, Winterfylleth, Cradle of Filth, Moonlight Sorcery.
Review By: Rick Farley
“The grasp of her talons brings gloam to the light”
Founded originally in Denver Colorado in 2017, symphonic black metal horde Stormkeep featuring members of Wayfarer, Blood Incantation and numerous others have returned with their second full length release, The Nocturnes of Iswylm via Vesperian. With a defined, clear sense of modern identity that’s still firmly rooted in the genre’s classic traits, the new album furthers their melodic, symphonic, and atmospheric black metal chaos with gorgeous backdrops of grandeur, malicious spirit, and fantastical storytelling. Where commanding melodic precision and sheer nastiness meet layers of symphonic world-building. The vile soundscapes mixed amongst the emotive beauty meld together as if it’s all one mystical world.
This is an epic, symphonic black metal triumph right from the very beginning of the cinematic notes of opener, The Taste of Immortal Blood. The swirling orchestration menacingly dances and surrounds you; the galloping melodies are bewitching all while the ravenous track bludgeons and blisters with its charging blast beats and 90s influenced spider-webbed guitars lines. A mixture of growly shrieks and gothic influenced cleans add more expansive layers to the already dramatic splendour. A theatrical score vibe melded with the malevolent darkness of black metal and majestic elements of power metal vocally and musically makes this an immediate favourite. The ebbs and flows of track two The Black Dragon of Iswylm goes from a swaggering, medieval carnival essence to utter face-melting speed in a blink of an eye. A softer but still driving passage near the middle moves powerfully to a flow of piano melodies with a progressive bassline moving like a serpent underneath, to a crushing guitar groove and back again with cohesive songwriting that ties it all expertly together. Album closer Ballad of a Fallen Star is a staggering ten-minute expression of beauty, darkness, and brutality. Melancholic acoustic guitars blended with floaty, sustained synths come together tragically, almost as if they’re mourning. The shades of dark gothic and black metal harshness are masterfully represented together as well as individually giving a distinct personality that is both morose and menacing with flourishes of brightened hope strung about. It ends the album just as it should, dramatic and deeply fulfilling.
The potent songwriting on The Nocturnes of Iswylm is an influenced mix of 90s Norwegian black metal, goth metal, power metal and the crunch and progressiveness from a band like Nevermore. Throw in a ton of D&D inspired storytelling and orchestral atmosphere with the theatrics of Clive barkers Nightbreed (movie) and this review should be making more sense as far as what to expect before even hearing your first note. If you’re already familiar, you’ll notice the purposeful absence of dungeon synths passages on this record in exchange for much fiercer and darker musicality with a larger focus on the bands gothic symphonics. Which also furthers the bands story narrative to be a direct sequel from the aftermath of the last record, hence the harsher tonal shift.
The Nocturnes of Iswylm was produced by Stormkeep together with Michael Zech (Dark Fortress, The Ruins of Beverast) and mastered by Arthur Rizk (Blood Incantation, Power Trip, Worm), the record is warm, richly toned, and full of pristine clarity. The cruel rawness still rips through with piercing edges and low end that’s strong but doesn’t get in the way of everything else. Cover art was done by Simon Bisley.
Once you’ve submersed yourself into The Nocturnes of Iswylm at least once, you’ll quickly realize this is transcending, world-building black metal that gets better and better with each listen. It takes turn after turn using the best elements of other genres to enhance the albums vampiric journey. This easily will be one of the best black metal records this year.
(5 / 5)
