SEPULCHRE BY THE SEA – Seven Chambers

RELEASE YEAR: 2024
BAND URL: https://sepulchrebythesea.bandcamp.com

Sepulchre by the Sea is an atmospheric black metal band inspired by the works of Edgar Allen Poe. Springing from United Kingdom the multi-instrumentalist Ash has been working on this project since 2019. In November Sepulchre by the Sea released their first album Conqueror Worm, followed by the EP Ratiocinations. After a three year hiatus they are now back with the new album Seven Chambers.

The album starts off on the shores as waves are heard and piano is playing a haunting melody, followed by black metal guitar riffs setting the scene for what is yet to come. The song Blue Hubris takes us straight into the next song, Purple Pestilence, which is a a straight up black metal banger for a couple of minutes. It is a progressive song with a lot of different elements. I am very much a fan of how Ash brings in melodies that are both catchy and scary at the same time. How this song starts off with being a black metal song but then transforms into a beautiful and sad track is astonishing.

Green Bath starts off the same way as the ending of Purple Pestilence, with the sounds of bugs and birds singing as a slow drone-ish melody is being heard from the guitars. This is what this song is all about, and it is a welcome break in the album. The next one is the single from the album, Orange Opulence. And what a majestic single it is – the song has so many different genres in it and the more I listen to it the more I find. In my opinion it is a bit folky, but also with a great sound of death metal from the early 90s, like old school Amorphis. All in all this song is nothing but a masterpiece.

White Death is the fifth song of the album and it’s both a great and somewhat weird track. It begins with strange sounds, followed by electronic elements before the slow drums are hitting in and dancing in symphony with the electronic waves. The first time I listened to this track I was out in the woods in a thunderstorm, and it was such a great soundtrack for such horrible weather.

Violet Visions is the longest song on the record, clocking in at 12 minutes. It starts off very slow with vocals screaming and it all sounds depressing in the best possible way. The first five minutes of the song are like this before changing into the sound of classical folk music. It evolves gradually into heavier guitars, rougher vocals and more aggression in general. An absoulte ride of a song, and how can you end such a ride? With humming vocals as the waves are yet again heard before the beginning of the end which is Scarlet Dreams. This is also the first track where there is clean singing, which fits perfectly. They way the sound of waves are yet again heard as the album is coming to an end is a perfect fit that truly completes the album.

This album album took me by surprise. I listened to it outside in the storm, and I was blown away by all the progressive parts along with the more classic black metal sounds. I really enjoy how Sepulchre by The Sea is not bound to be an atmospheric black metal band. This record is much more than that. It combines a lot of different genres and dares to take chances that end up working very well. This is by far one of the most interesting albums of the year and it comes very close to being a masterpiece within its genre.