Bloedmaan is already back.
Led by Ronarg (all instruments/vocals, Antzaat, Ars Veneficium, Cirith Gorgor…), the project signed to Immortal Frost Productions will release its fourth album, Circle of the Moon, in 2026.
Chilling atmosphere and intoxicating melodies return right from the start with On Dragons Wings, a majestic opening track that doesn’t hesitate to draw from the most ethereal realms of Black Metal to bring its most captivating sounds to life, particularly with an Old School touch when the rhythm section picks up speed and the vocals kick in. It’s impossible not to get swept away by this torrent of harmonics, tinged with melancholy toward the end; then comes The Sorceress and the Key, which haunts us with haunting yet heady sounds that grow more aggressive over time, yet never fail to mesmerize us as the rhythm section builds and the vocalist roars. Another surge in intensity comes with Dawn of the Eternal Frost, which hits the ground running, offering almost joyful tones that quickly ignite into something hellish, mirroring the vocals—creating a contrast with the much more subdued Oh Come Night Eternal, which takes on a heavier tone and even features a few passages of clean vocals alongside the screams, though the latter still dominate. He Who Speaks in Dreams takes off at full speed, weaving piercing guitar leads that go hand in hand with heart-wrenching screams, while still offering a few calmer moments that allow the guitar to take center stage just as on Curse of the Undead, where it beautifully enhances the fierce foundation, particularly alongside the energetic drumming. The atmosphere shifts with the oppressive Spell of Thralldom, which skillfully pairs mysterious tones with a furious approach, yet surprises with a much softer acoustic finale, ultimately leading into the majestic and somber Transylvanian Tears, the final track that flirts with DSBM to deliver its most striking moments and encapsulate all the sadness in a penetrating sound.
The Bloedmaan project is still fairly underground, but I’m hopeful that Circle of the Moon will help bring it to the world’s attention, given how capable the musician is of creating tracks that are sometimes poignant, sometimes rawer, but always fascinating.
95/100
