THE STONE – Kletva

RELEASE YEAR: 2025
BAND URL: https://lnk.to/kletva

The Serbian purveyors of brooding black metal collectively known as The Stone quite literally blew this scribe away back in 2021 when they unearthed the near-flawless and deeply atmospheric gem titled Kosturnice, and so naturally, this latest opus of theirs released in late November this year was a most welcome addition to my pile of stuff to review. Let us get on with it then, shall we?  

Across seven dynamic compositions totaling forty minutes we are guided expertly through a relentlessly morose and world-weary soundscape in which emotionally charged and varied vocals, creatively crafted and staggeringly efficient riffs, and a robust-sounding and highly potent rhythm section all come together in a splendid manner. Take a listen to “Kletve lovor” and revel in how intense melancholy oozes from its every pore, or the bleak epic that is “Trag u večnosti” and how it balances beauty and rage. Clever details abound; the way in which “Besi” has been arranged is sublime as are the chords and melodies utilized in the album’s closing track named “Sveća je dogorela.”  

Kletva is both majestic and wide in scope as well as reflective and even introspective, and a restless feeling of yearning permeates the entire record and its razor-sharp songs in a frightening manner. One might say that this latest offering of theirs elevates the band and their discography to even greater distinction. What could be better than a magnificent black metal LP that is bolstered by twists, turns, and engrossing qualities?