Riverflame is going on an adventure.
Formed by Romain Nobileau (vocals, Owls, Toter Fisch), Georgiadis “Haris” Charalampos (guitar/keyboards, Hail Spirit Noir), Abro (bass, Ponte Del Diavolo, Feralia, Lum…) and Håkon Freyr Gustafsson (drums, Skinher), the band has signed with Code666 Records for the release of their debut album, Lunar Crusades.
We’re greeted by medieval keyboards on Riverflame, then vocals quickly take the time to lay out their story before distortion imbues the composition with an epic touch rooted in melodic Black Metal – yet a quite cold and mysterious one. The whispers reinforce the intriguing atmosphere, but the screams amplify the violence of the rhythm section, creating a contrast between the various elements that make the track quite theatrical, between its screeching leads and its accelerations, elements also found on Where Dragons Once Ruled, the next track, which kicks off with a bang. It’s impossible not to feel all the fury in this devastating composition that struggles to subside, maintaining a constant sense of oppression before taking off at full speed again, imposing its melodic influences between two narrative elements that tirelessly reignite the machine before moving on to Lunar Crusades and its gentle introduction with medieval tones. The track is much shorter than the others, serving as a sort of interlude with martial drumming before the distortion returns alongside a female voice; then we move on to Through Mistlands of Unearthly Worlds, where we find a touch of darkness, even though the angelic vocals have stayed with us, but we’re soon back traveling alongside the roars. There is still a slightly nostalgic touch despite the omnipresent violence and the sometimes unsettling vocal parts, but it is after a particularly soothing break that we enter Before the Eternal Night, the album’s final track, where the atmosphere shifts once more, becoming much heavier, yet also developing even more diverse elements rooted in heady melodic death metal, in contrast to the fury emanating from certain sections; however, the finale brings us back to reality and gently guides us out of the band’s universe.
Although this is only their debut album, Riverflame knows exactly how to capture our imagination and offer a true escape with Lunar Crusades! While Black Metal remains the main element, the epic touches allow for many other influences.
80/100