Review: Aquilus- Bellum II

Style: Symphonic black metal, folk, classical (mixed vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Opeth, Ne Obliviscaris, Emperor, Agalloch, Chopin, Debussy
Country: Australia
Release date: 3 May 2024

Aquilus should be, by all accounts, a lightning in a bottle band. With a whole ten years between debut Griseus, which remains my favorite black metal album ever, and the first half of the massive Bellum, it almost seemed that Horace Rosenqvist had called it quits. To this day, Bellum I is an album I regret not reviewing for the Subway, so we’ll take this as a sort of retroactive review of both records.

So, let’s get that out of the way. Bellum I proved that Aquilus is one of the most unique musical projects out there. What seems like normal sympho-black on the surface gives way to some of the most beautiful classical piano pieces I’ve ever heard, and Rosenqvist’s ability to juggle between the two seamlessly is what makes them stand out among everyone else. But Bellum I is only half of the output that Rosenqvist spent ten years making. How does the album’s second half stack up?

It brings me every ounce of joy to say that Aquilus has not lost any of that quality between releases. Bellum II is mostly held up high by two massive, seventeen minute songs, and the album’s all the better for it. Before you get there, the opening duo ‘By Tallow Noth’ and ‘Into the Earth’ set the stage for a new era of the project, that sees Rosenqvist working with sessions drummers, violinists and opera singers. Thundering drums welcome you back to the more metal side, and the back-half includes that trademark, Chopin-esque piano.

Despite the inclusion of some new faces, Aquilus’s core sound remains intact and stronger than ever. Rosenqvist has always been a master of song movements, but there’s more cohesion than ever here. The transition from classical to blast beats at the start of SOTY contender ‘Night to Her Gloam’ made me sit the fuck down and appreciate all the hard work that’s gone into this album. The thundering, Ne Obliviscaris-like toms that bring ‘By Tallow North’ to a massive crescendo locked me in just like ‘Nihil’ off Griseus did. 

‘Nigh’ and ‘My Frost Laden Vale’ would collapse in the hands of a less skillful band. But Aquilus earn that insane runtime by filling every crevice of these two songs with the best ideas they could get. The Be’lakor reminiscent riff in ‘Nigh’, coupled with the screaming solo that follows would be enough to satisfy me, but that would leave out the absolutely breathtaking, jaunty folk section that follows, which builds and becomes one of the best riffs Rosenqvist has ever written.’Into the Earth’ begins with a frenetic, thrash-y jaunt that slowly moves into dark folk territory, and this is all in the first two minutes. 

The Opeth influence is still clear in Bellum, as there’s still plenty of Akerfeldtian octave chord shifting and sections in 6/8, but there is so much more to be found on both albums. Aquilus don’t forget to have a bit of aggression with their beauty, and the changes from pummeling to soothing have never been better. In fact, Aquilus remind me of why I love early Opeth so much and why I fell in love with prog to begin with: they write songs in movements, skillfully branching out through each section without feeling stuffed or endlessly noodly. Aquilus know when its time to slow a song down for a bit, just to make room for the next upcoming epic riff. 

If I were just talking about the two epics, I would just give this album a 10/10 and call it my AOTY. Unfortunately, it’s not just that. Upon first listen, I was a little disappointed that such a massive, epic album ends on what is essentially very pretty noise. However, upon listening to it as one massive, two-hour piece, I find that my initial pacing quibbles with Bellum II are solved. Bellum I seems like a classical album with metal bits, while Bellum II very much feels the opposite, and I think they compliment each other quite beautifully in that way. 

Aquilus’s talent seems to know no bounds. They stand high and proud among a genre laden with Emperor wannabes and guys who stick trem riffs over a synth and call it sympho-black. Horace Rosenqvist and company understand the very meaning of blending classical and metal, and this is why I cannot help but gush over how incredible Bellum as a whole has turned out. Now that Rosenqvist has a whole band at his disposal, let’s see how the next masterpiece is going to turn out. 

Recommended tracks: Nigh to Her Gloam, My Frost Laden Vale, but you owe it to yourself to listen to both albums back to back
You may also like: Dessiderium, In Vain, Lamentari
Final verdict: 8.5/10 (9/10 for Bellum as a whole)

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

Label: Northern Silence Productions – Bandcamp | Facebook

Aquilus is:
– Horace Rosenqvist (Everything)