Labyrinthus Stellarum – Rift in Reality
Release Date: 2nd May 2025
Label: Archivist Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal, Astral Black Metal, Cosmic Black Metal.
FFO: Darkspace, Mesarthim, Vorga, Mare Cognitum, Arcturus.
Review By: Rick Farley
The cosmic, synth driven, atmospheric black metal from Ukrainian band Labyrinthus Stellarum is returning from the outer void for their third full length studio album, Rift in Reality. Releasing May 2nd, 2025, via Archivist Records.
“Known for their cosmic themes and innovative fusion of black metal with electronic elements, the band continues to push musical boundaries with this latest offering.”
Rift in Reality contains eight tracks, the last of which is an instrumental. Each one narrates a unique chapter in an overarching cosmic saga. The melodic fusion of atmospheric black metal, with cosmic synths, prog elements and post rock elements creates an undeniably unique listen that will feel like genre walls have been obliterated.
Track one, Voyagers chronicles the journey taken by explorers venturing deep into the unknown. Driven by knowledge and the mysteries of the void, the bouncy track has a diverse sound that leans less on black metal troupes and more on pure cosmic atmosphere. The vocals remain shrieky and blackened, while the music is more along the lines of heavy electronic grooves and proggy hooks. Not a departure from their sound by any means, but it does seem a little more accessible with an increased presence of clean vocals and elements that are less bleak sounding than usual. Not a complaint, but rather an acknowledgment of growth.
Track three, Take Us Home, is about the colonists who are abandoned on a dark sunless planet who yearn for the light of their home. Polarizing icy black metal mixed with spacey synths that perfect the haunting atmosphere of a vast, lonely cosmos. Yearning and brutality meld together for a heart-wrenching ambience that will both befall you with grief and rage. It’s a refreshing take on two elements that are often overused and misdone. Epic atmosphere with bursts of brutal double bass and giant waves of desolation throughout.
Track four, Rift in Reality, explores the consequences of creating a rift between dimensions, in turn unleashing unprecedented evils into the world. The energetic heavy stomp comes back only to add unique, robotic clean vocals and catchy post rock vibes underneath layers of weaving synths and blackened guitars. A mutated burst of violent and ridiculously heavy deathcore breakdown incorporates into the end of the track, marking an unexpected moment of sheer annihilation.
Track seven, Liftoff captures the departure of the voyagers, embarking on a mission beyond known boundaries in search of the key to the Void. A musical build in tension that explodes into frosty black metal from the dark depths of space. Icy blasting and searing tremolo picking, fuse the cold and burning together. The track feels grand without overdoing the theatrics of the synths. Each element is carefully crafted together with experimentation in mind but with a serious knack for songwriting.
The exuberant youth of this band combined with their undaunted need for evolving without pushing past the ridiculous is infectious. Their music could easily be a complete mess in the hands of lesser musicians, but the reality is this is masterful writing balancing the line between excess and restraint, as well as the organic and synthetic. This is colossal, bold, intense black metal fused with darkly beautiful synthwave elements that are greater as a whole. Now, with a clearer focus on catchiness and accessibility, any adventurous metal fan should be able to see the distinct vision of Labyrinthus Stellarum.
(4 / 5)
