Emerging from the depths of the Spanish underground, BLACKSHROUD’s debut EP “The Archaic Horrors”, released by the Mexican label Dark Recollections Productions on CD, arrives as a testament to the enduring spirit of Death / Doom Metal. This six-track offering, released in September 2024, showcases the collective experience of its members, who have cut their teeth in various notable acts within the Spanish Metal scene. From the opening moments, it becomes apparent that BLACKSHROUD isn’t merely retreading familiar territory. The band crafts a suffocating atmosphere that draws heavily from both the cavernous depths of Death Metal and the brooding malevolence of Doom. The production strikes a masterful balance, maintaining enough clarity to let the intricate arrangements breathe while preserving the essential rawness that gives the material its bite. What sets “The Archaic Horrors” apart is its ability to seamlessly weave together disparate elements of extreme Metal. The riffs alternate between crushing doom-laden passages and bursts of old school Death Metal vibe, reminiscent of bands like RIPPIKOULU, DERKÉTA or more recently SOLOTHUS, among others, while carving out their own distinct identity. Each track is carefully constructed to maintain interest throughout its runtime, with enough variation to avoid the pitfall of monotony that often plagues this style. The album opens with ‘La Nit De Les Ànimes’ (Intro), a beautiful piano song that captivates everything around. Then it moves to ‘The Ghastly Embrace’, a song that reflects what the nature of the band will be all across the album. Vocally, the performance stays firmly rooted in the Death Metal tradition, with deep, guttural emanations that enhance the overall atmosphere without overwhelming the instrumentation covered by its oppressive sound. ‘Beyond Salvation’, the third song is more likely to sound like a cycle coming from the heart of the band. Then we have ‘Darklands’, a very dense song that announces the arrival of darkness and dusk to the album. ‘With The Shades Of Dusk’ (the fifth song) sounds more old school and traditional, but still keeps the band’s integrity and vision combining the heaviest Doom elements. Finally ‘Vigília’(Outro) closes to take us back to the origin of the album as it is another piano piece. At just over 26 minutes, “The Archaic Horrors” demonstrates remarkable restraint, delivering its message without overstaying its welcome. This debut EP marks BLACKSHROUD as a promising new force in the Death / Doom scene, one that understands both the importance of honoring their influences and the need to push beyond them. Check them out! https://blackshrouddm.bandcamp.com, www.facebook.com/darkrecollectionsproductions