As Was

The NYC black metal band\'s fourth album.

New York City's BLACK ANVIL return with As Was, the staggering 50-minute follow-up to 2014's Hail Death. Atmospheric and melodic without relenting on any of the ferocity BLACK ANVIL have always been known for, As Was seamlessly weaves through eight monumental passages of extreme metal art. More diverse, complex, and thought-provoking than anything they've done before, As Was is a stellar representation of modern black metal, and of BLACK ANVIL's continuous progression and songcraft. Featuring cover art by Metastazis (Behemoth, Watain, Morbid Angel) and recorded at Menegroth by Colin Marston (Krallice, Gorguts, Panopticon) with mixing and mastering done by Tore Stjerna at Necromorbus Studio (Tribulation, Funeral Mist, Watain).

Like Celtic Frost before them, Black Anvil find ways to summon profound darkness without tapping into black-metal clichés. Their latest ebbs and flows with effortless grace.

For their fourth outing, As Was, the band seem intent on digging further into the inky ether and drawing out even more intrepid fodder with which to mold their myriad horrors, with highlights arriving via the epic opener "On Forgotten Ways," the relentless "Nothing," and the serpentine title cut.

James Halstead reviews the latest record from US black metal outfit Black Anvil. Read his review of 'As Was' here on Distorted Sound.

Black Anvil has always been able to balance atmosphere into their metal, but As Was might be their best effort yet.

A review of As Was by Black Anvil, available worldwide January 13th via Relapse Records.