Order of Nosferat/Lunar Spells – Shadowrealm Incantations – Split (Review)

Order of Nosferat and Lunar Spells are both black metal bands, the former from Germany/Finland, and the latter from Greece.

I do love a good black metal split. I was unfamiliar with both of these bands prior to listening to this, so decided to just dive in and see what we have here.

Order of Nosferat’s side of the split is 25 minutes in length and features five tracks.

To the Mountains of Wallachia opens things up with mysterious synths, before a grim distorted guitar slices across the airwaves like a blade through a throat. Raw, atmospheric, and melodic, the song is a well-crafted and has an infernal blackened personality that makes a good impression. Order of Nosferat sound confident and fully in control of their engaging black metal.

Whispers from the Crypts is a three-minute dungeon synth interlude that I quite enjoy. It has a Burzum-esque character that works well. After this we have the longest cut Scars of Nocturnal Terrors, which continues in the same vein as To the Mountains of Wallachia, only even more melodic and atmospheric, especially as it features an ambient synth section that develops into something that is reminiscent of someone like Vinterriket. It’s easy to get lost in, and the band’s music is immersive and easily enjoyable if you’re a fan of this sort of thing.

Melodies Echo from the Abandoned Castle is yet another dungeon synth interlude, which is pleasant enough. Better though is the closing cut Bloodthirst and Morbid Lust. As the name might suggest, it showcases a more aggressive side of the band, while still retaining the atmosphere that they have shown they’re so good at creating.

Order of Nosferat have impressed. They know how to write an old-school black metal tune, that’s for sure. I’ll be sure to check out more of their work as I very much like what I’ve heard here. Vampiric black metal supremacy.

Lunar Spells are up next, delivering four tracks in 17 minutes.

The imaginatively titled Intro begins Lunar Spells’ side. With funereal organs the the band immediately announce themselves with an imposing presence. Beholding the Summoners of Winterfall explodes out of this with frozen malice and hostile demeanour. The old-school 90s style is recreated with confidence and skill, and the song is effortlessly pleasing in its familiarity and contempt for wider influences. Well-written and icy at its core, it’s a damn good song.

Next up is Wounds of Forgotten Daylight, which burns cold with bright shades of darkness. Its aggressive melancholia is instantly compelling and only burrows deeper into your brain as the sharp guitars cut and slice and saw. Yep, this is the stuff.

Malefic Incarnation finishes off the release with a shock of frozen intensity and misanthropic macabre mood. It boasts a lead melody that exists somewhere between tense and nervous, and this weaves its way throughout the song in various permutations throughout.

Like Order of Nosferat, Lunar Spells have impressed. Yet another band I need to look into a bit more, as their black metal is exactly my sort of thing.

Shadowrealm Incantations is a very worthy split release. It showcases two very enjoyable underground black metal acts, both of which deserve to be heard and savoured for the dark gifts they offer fans of the style.

Very highly recommended.