This is the third album from German solo black metal band Uprising.
III is brought to us by a founder of Waldgeflüster, with drums provided by the artist behind Panopticon. Uprising’s music is rooted in the classic black metal style, but not limited to it, and carries with it a contemporary message.
It’s clear that time and love have been expended on Uprising, and the music reflects this. The classic black metal template is undeniably the starting point, but not the end – this is modern black metal that takes advantage of the last few decades to inject a few different influences into the six songs on III, to great effect.
III contains 41 minutes of raging blackened aggression that’s tempered with elements of melody and the occasional atmospheric enrichment. The songs are sharp and darkly vibrant. They bite with piercing aggression, while benefiting from melodies that cover a range of moods, such as forlorn melancholy, resplendent majesty, desperate rage, and hopeful fury.
III is moreish and easy to repeatedly dive into. There’s an urgent energy here that’s infectious, and this is enhanced with emotive performances that elevate the material, (the affecting melodies and the impassioned vocals are notable in particular). This passionate delivery makes for music that’s impactful, especially when the quality of the songwriting complements this to the extent that it does.
Uprising’s music is really good. Given the experience of those unleashing it into the world, this should comes as no surprise I suppose, but that doesn’t lessen how satisfying and enjoyable a record this is. If you’re a fan of modern black metal that cuts deep and has more hooks than you might imagine, then III is for you.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 