Svnth are an Italian post-black metal band and this is their third album.

We’ve met Svnth before, under their longer name Seventh Genocide. On new album Spring in Blue Svnth mix black metal with shoegaze, post-metal, and progressive rock influences, crafting a 61-minute album of post-blackened grandeur that’s quite enticing and extremely enjoyable.

The music is expressive and well-crafted. A high degree of musicianship can be felt across the songs, not only in the performances, but also in the choices made regarding songwriting and quality of delivery.

Melancholic introspection is combined with emotive shoegaze and progressive exploration. The lengthy tracks brim with emotion and feeling, creating atmospheric soundscapes that are generously textured and finely-realised. Rich melody is a constant feature, working its way through the album like a sinuous serpent, never too far from the surface. Added to this are faster, more aggressive, more blackened elements, although even these don’t completely shed their emotive skins.

Blackened screams tie everything together, acting as a focal point for music that probably doesn’t need one, but benefits from it despite this. Other styles also appear, adding value when they do.

A lot of post-black metal albums feel like they’re made up of black metal music that’s included other influences into itself. Spring in Blue feels more like a progressive rock album that has had blackened elements imposed on it, twisting it into a sort of atmospheric blackgaze journey that’s really quite engaging and full of dark personality.

I really liked this. Very highly recommended for any fan of emotive darkness.