Ellende – Zerfall
Release Date: 2nd January 2026
Label: AOP Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal, Post-Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Blackgaze.
FFO: Drudkh, Alcest, Paysage d’Hiver, Harakiri For The Sky, Woods of Desolation, Firtan.
Review By: Rick Farley
In a rather large crowd of the post-atmospheric genre, especially within the confines of black metal, sounding original or recognizable is becoming more and more a challenging task. One such band or one-man band if you will, Ellende has risen from the depths, starting with their debut self-titled album Ellende back in 2013 to now being internationally recognized as a top tier atmospheric black metal act 14 years into their careers. Built from raw intensity and profound emotional layers, founder, and multi-instrumentalist L.G. has returned in 2026 with the bands sixth full length album, Zerfall being released via AOP Records.
Zerfall is a triumphant, full of the alluring dark beauty, aching classical instrumentation of strings and piano that accents the raging fire of tremolo picked madness and crushing blast beats. On the surface, if you’re new to this style of black metal, one might think that pure rage, desolation, mournfulness, and tinges of hope could never exist together in harmony, but one would be severely mistaken. This amalgamation of strong emotions resides together as if one could not exist without the others. The burning blackened intensity leads to overcast gloominess which then leads to dispirited heartache. Rage to sombre to sadness and back again.
L.G. clearly understands melody and song structure, and while there isn’t a whole lot that differentiates the emotional aftermath of Zerfall from the pact of atmospheric-post black metal, Ellende does it better than most. That’s not to say this is not fresh sounding or recognizable, I solely mean that this genre is all aiming for the same emotions and a lot of times bands forget that they have to write a good song first and then hope for the emotional impact. Ellende excels in this, utilizing rich production, full toned low end, clever arrangements, and seamless transitions ranging from surging aggressiveness, to ethereal, ghostly atmosphere that creates a soundscape which advances the songs and the record as a whole from beginning to end in a natural, organic way. Snaking basslines weaving between clean guitar lines and pillowy synths. Full on chest battering blastbeats and fire fuelled blackened guitars both seethes forward towards obliteration, while shadowy figures of sorrow engulf everything around it. A melancholic world within a world that’s already inherently volatile. The harsh, tortured screams fester like wounds until they drift towards a moving piece of music or choral vocals that dimly brighten the thick darkness with shards of peaceful light. There is amazing balance on Zerfall that keeps the listener intrigued as well as emotionally invested. In some cases, it’s nearly impossible to not be entranced by the way the chord changes and wavering moods affect you subconsciously.
There are two guest spots worth noting. Klara Bachmair of Firtan brings her otherworldly melodies to Zeitenwende Teil I. The piano and violin are beautiful elements within a pulsing low-end dominant track that builds to nightmarish black metal and ends with a celestial post metal haze. Zeitenwende Teil II features Paul Färber of Norikum fame. This is a ferocious taste of melodic black metal that flirts with doses of death metal in certain sections and leads directly to a tasteful guitar solo that brings it back to a more atmospheric, hazy aggression. Both these songs represent everything this record offers, in a two part culmination of transcendent, journey filled songwriting.
With so many good albums in their discography, it’s hard for me to acknowledge a favourite or judge where this stands, but Zerfall certainly kicks off my 2026 with an easy recommend. Check this one out.
(4 / 5)
