Missed Album Review: Valdrin – Throne of the Lunar Soul

Genres: melodic black metal, symphonic black metal (mixed vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Emperor, Dissection
Country: Ohio, United States
Release date: 24 November, 2023

Andy is wrong about many things, but he is especially wrong about one thing in particular. Black metal is not at its peak when it’s dissonant, noisy, and invoking “the sublime” or whatever. Black metal is at its peak when it makes me feel like I’m a Black Rider, crossing from Minas Morgul into the Shire in search of the One Ring. Riffs that evoke the feeling of being a Witcher hunting for the next monster to slay. An atmosphere that transports me from my apartment couch to the Lands Between in the middle of Godfrey’s boss fight. Black metal has, and always will be, for the nerds.

This year’s Night Crowned had the title of best nerd black metal on lock, and while they still put up a valiant effort, there was a bigger fish on the horizon. Valdrin waited in their towering, evil lair, scheming and concocting their newest alchemized abomination to unleash upon the world. Hailing from only two hours away in the kingdom of Cincinnati, these dark lords of the riff and synth decided to make their mark on my AOTY list right when I was at my most vulnerable.

Valdrin play a very easily described style of black metal. If you’ve heard Stormkeep, then you can safely imagine how our black metal champions of the month sound. However, Valdrin’s sound lies much more on the less whimsical side of things. There are prevalent synths, plentiful riffs, and lyrics that all evoke the atmosphere of being the dark lord of this world, unleashing armies of eldritch abominations across the land.

Like the plodding steps of an Oliphaunt, ‘Neverafter’’s first riff crashes through the quiet, synth-y intro, setting the stage for our long journey ahead. The song moves with furious speed, accentuated by Carter Hicks’s rasps of necromancy and the afterlife. It’s at the song’s end where I began to realize why this activated my neurons so much. Valdrin are not afraid to have a little fun with their black metal. Is the short-spoken word section cheesy as hell? Yes, but it adds to the album’s hokey, in a good way, nature.

See, if less competent musicians were at the helm of this album, it would be a messy storm of cliches. However, this album moves quite fast for a 70+ minute affair. Valdrin keeps things interesting with an array of punishing, folk-y riffs, synth swirls and the rare appearance of some clean vocals. The cleans deserve some special praise, as they’re unexpectedly quite good and not just shoehorned in. Their infrequent appearance sprinkled throughout the album really elevates the songs they appear on as a great contrast against constant black metal rasps.

More special praise goes to the title track, which is the obvious standout of the whole album. The inclusion of choral elements and an absolutely beautiful, tasteful guitar solo overlaid makes it feel as though the epic journey Valdrin took us on is about to come to an end. Rounding off with ‘Two Carrion Talismans’, Valdrin gives one of the best band name-drops I’ve ever heard, as well as a previous album title-drop as the very last set of lyrics on the album.

I’ve sung this album’s praises, and it’s been in constant rotation since the first listen, but there is a glaring flaw. This album is long, way too long. There seems to be a running theme this year of incredible albums trapped inside very, very good ones that need some editing. However, I can’t tell you what I’d leave out. Sure, there could be a few minutes shaved off of some songs, but I can’t pinpoint what I’d shave off.

This makes Throne a confusing rating for me. I’d love to give it a much higher score on the basis of sheer enjoyment, and like many things I rate, the score has a chance to fluctuate. That being said, Valdrin has made a triumph. Length aside, there’s some real talent to behold in how Valdrin makes basic symphoblack interesting for 73 minutes straight. It’s a bit self-indulgent, sure, but makes up for it in spades in terms of execution. Well done, Valdrin, now come to Cleveland.

Recommended tracks: Neverafter, Seven Swords (In the Arsenal of Steel), Sojourner Wolf, The Heirophant, Holy Matricide, Throne of the Lunar Soul 
You may also like: Caladan Brood, Stormkeep
Final verdict: 8.5/10

Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page

Label: Blood Harvest – Bandcamp | Facebook | Official Website

Band in question is:
– Carter Hicks (vocals, guitars, keyboards)
– James Lewis (bass)
– Ryan Maurmeier (drums)
– Colten Deem (guitars)