Enthroned “Ashspawn”

Belgium’s Enthroned - a pioneering Belgian Black Metal band; known the world over for both their uncompromising approach to the craft of Black Metal and for their involvement with the Occult. A 32 year reign has been Enthroned’s career. They’re one of those Black Metal bands that have evolved along with the industry, but in Enthroned’s case, it’s been in the classiest way. They’ve always been a reliable source for Black Metal of the world-class variety and Satanic themes/imagery have donned Enthroned’s records since their first promo. But it was in the annual of 2004 that the group would become something more substantial than just a Black Metal band - a coven…

With the release of XES Hereticum, Enthroned began to take a more ritualistic outlook upon the creation of Black Metal, and it has been that way since. Each record since the release of their ‘04 opus conveys its own unique diabolical energy, and the lyrics have evolved into their present form: incantations, invocations and various other Occult manifestations. 

2025 - more than three decades following their formation, Enthroned is a Black Metal household name and we all know that whatever they release will be worth a listen or five. Black Metal is branched off into two categories: the guys like Nordjevel and Watain who do things the contemporary way and the Underground Dwellers… Those bands that are all stuck in this pervasive 1993 time warp, and who only release what are considered by many to be “true Black Metal” albums. We all know that Enthroned falls into the former category. They are a rare example of modernity and genre trueness occupying the same space. And in 2019, Enthroned released their Season of Mist debut, Cold Black Suns - a souped-up Black Metal record, but classy again, as “CBS” exudes all of the sleek characteristics of a brand new BMW, as opposed to an old hearse. Epic compositions were and still are the way for Enthroned. 

Now, 2025 and we find ourselves in this post-plague dystopia where absurdity is the new religion and its followers are prepared to die for it, Enthroned is back… Back and one thing remains clear, and that is the fact that despite the twisted trajectory of humanity, Enthroned will always be a rock for the genre: dependable yet innovative and not quite mainstream but definitely above the Underground. And on December 5, they will release their new LP, Ashspawn, via Season of Mist.

Occult Black Metal is nothing new. Bands like Ofermod (Sweden) and Αχέροντας (Greece) have been creating Black Metal with deep spiritual connotations since the ‘90’s. Now, we have a slew of likeminded collectives: Mephorash, Serpent Noir, Ad Omega and Wothrosch, for instance, whose involvement with Black Metal is only equaled by their involvement with the Occult. For these bands, the great craft of Occultism and the most precious dark art of Black Metal go hand-in-hand. And their records are of the most powerful, the most profound consortium. For Ashspawn, Enthroned chose to delve into their studies in order to formulate the lyrics. They decided to collaborate with esteemed Occult Author, Gilles de Laval, who happens to be a modern day Sage of the great craft alongside the likes of people such as fellow Author Thomas Karlsson - founder of Swedish Draconian Blood Cult, Dragon Rouge, whose lives have been dedicated to ritual, esoteric studies and self-development. So, we can expect the lyrics for Ashspawn to be heavy with incantations, chants, formulas and invocations. And therein lies the true power of Occult BM - Black Metal as a vessel for magickal energy that has the potential to make a profound spiritual impact on the listener. 

A little less refined than Cold Black Suns is Ashspawn. Everything is a little more distorted and unpolished, not raw by any means, just without the mainstream glean that the previous record possessed. And vocally, Nornagest reaches deep within and comes out with desperation, with rage, brutality and ritualism. Suspense is the way here. This perpetual build-up in the opening track, “Crawling Temples”, for example, that will keep you on the edge of your seat whilst you absorb such tyrannical Black Metal. And just that elite feel, that element of class that only comes with experience, wisdom and a decent budget. Bordering on Death Metal is the intro to “Stillborn Litany”, as I’m reminded of American Satanic Death Metal bands, Morbid Angel and Deicide by the simple wickedness and the sheer heaviness of it. And then it’s back into the tempest with you: swarming riffs, rhythms like the pulse of Hell and imagery of rapturous world-destruction evoked. 

I would call this Enthroned’s greatest accomplishment by a long shot. Like the culmination of a life’s work. Anything that comes afterwards being a mere encore. It’s tough to imagine what sort of direction a band could take following such a formidable album. The soundtrack to the Sacrificial catalyst to rapture, to the birth of the Antichrist or to the fourth Horseman’s ride. “Raviasamin” - a dark liturgical intro gives way to the remainder of this brilliant track that alternates so beautifully between varying tempos and that also puts on display the collective talent of the band. Musicianship matters here. This is exactly how the genre is supposed to evolve: not so much with innovation but more a sense of growth or maturation, all the while as the musician keeps one eye fixed upon where he and the genre came from. 

Enthroned continues to assert themselves as forerunners of the international Black Metal scene with albums like Ashspawn. Their partnership with the prestigious Season of Mist has thus far proven to be a fruitful engagement: brilliant label, great band, epic record. Epic like calling forth the end of days through ritual. Not performing a ritual that’s been formulated for simply contacting Daemons, but to invoke the Serpent, the Dragon and the Eleven for the bringing forth of a new Aeon when the Ancients will rule again. That type of Black Metal… Not for forests or storytelling! Not for lore or for misanthropy, just true Occult BM with a modern edge and crafted as a conduit for Satanic/Luciferian currents. One of the all time greats just doing what they’ve always done. Through tragedy (the suicide of Enthroned’s founding drummer), industry shifts and all the hardships that go along with being in a renowned Black Metal band, this entity stands strong; bonded by the deeper meaning. All hail’s be unto Enthroned! Ashspawn is a weapon of an album.

SCORE: 9.5 /10

You can purchase Ashspawn on Enthroned’s Bandcamp or stream it on their Spotify when it is released December 5th.