Aquilus – Bellum II (Review)

This is the third album from one-man Australian black metal act Aquilus.

Bellum II is the 59-minute follow up to 2021’s well-received Bellum I. In much the same vein as its predecessor, Bellum II is an atmospheric black metal album that makes heavy use of classical influences as well as some folk elements, although this simplistic description does not do the material here ample justice.

The ideas on Bellum I – already well-developed – are expanded upon and refined on Bellum II. Despite its length there is no filler here, and all of the record drips with meaningful emotion and classically influenced presence. It’s a record to lose yourself to as a whole, offering the sort of captivating experience that’s rarely found.

The immersive keyboards and violin are thick and luscious, layering every part of the music with rich depth of feeling. This is a particular strength of Aquilus’s sound, and the songwriting maximises it. A range of other instruments also contribute to the album’s unique flavour, and overall Bellum II is awash with textured intricacy.

The songs are ripe with expressive darkness and haunting beauty. There are three primary songs that make use of black metal ingredients – two of which make up more than half of the record between them. Their style is mood-based black metal with immersive atmosphere and orchestral grandeur, but they also have more aggressive bite and compelling hooks than you might be expecting, considering, overall, Bellum II is a more atmospheric work than Bellum I. Of the tracks that contain no black metal ingredients, these are mostly short and absorbing, acting as both bridges between songs and as capable mood pieces in their own right. My favourite is also the longest – Sombre Loom – and is a flawlessly gorgeous work. The album is a holistic journey though, and all of the music seamlessly flows from one song to the next, irrespective of whether it has black metal components or not; it’s that strong.

Bellum II is black metal as an artistic triumph, and the artist behind Aquilus is a master of his. As much as I liked Bellum I, this is the superior record. If you’re a fan of atmospheric black metal, this is essential.