This is the second album from black metal solo act Blackbraid.
Blackbraid I was a very enjoyable album, which showcased the work of a talented new artist. Now though we have the immense Blackbraid II to absorb ourselves in. With a length of 66 minutes,(which includes a Bathory cover), it’s almost double the duration of its predecessor, and reveals that Blackbraid’s debut was no one-hit wonder.
Blackbraid II takes all of the strengths of Blackbraid I and makes them bigger, bolder, and more ambitious. The music is well-written and moreish, and I find the sound and performances on this album delectable. The songs deliver melancholic melodies and fierce aggression that tie together wonderfully. The album’s expansive atmosphere is backed up by riffs with substance, making for songs that invite you back
Blackbraid II is a compelling amalgamation of a few different blackened styles, collecting them into an album that’s extremely satisfying. There’s second wave darkness aplenty, alongside the emotive might of melodic black metal. There’s a clear atmospheric black metal influence that allows the songs to build up immersive soundscapes, and Native American folk detailing that accents the music like a rich tapestry. We get touches of thrash metal too, especially later on, as well as the occasional doom metal influence.
This is simply a damn good black metal album. If this is the sort of blackened style that you are partial to, then it’s effortless to enjoy. Well-written and performed, each song hits the spot with enviable ease. Also, you can tell how much I like this album when I haven’t even complained about the fact it has interlude tracks.
If you’re a fan of music by bands like Agalloch and Wolves in the Throne Room, then you need Blackbraid II in your life.
Essential listening.
Wonderbox Metal 
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