ALBUM REVIEW: Age Of Unreason – ColdCell

There is a unique art to making a black metal album that can stand out within a crowded genre – a special je ne sais quoi that can’t be described, and that no arrangement of words will ever do justice to… yet it taps into something deep within the blackened soul. COLDCELL‘s fifth studio album Age Of Unreason is a fine example of this, a record that casts a dark spell over the listener with seven tracks of esoteric and elegant noise.

Released on AOP Records, this Swiss act have joined a roster of heavyweight acts that includes the likes of ELLENDE and HARAKIRI FOR THE SKY, and their previous album The Greater Evil (2021) was released on LADLO Productions – one of the most interesting and progressive labels to emerge within this sub-genre, and a sure sign of quality.

Age Of Unreason is a relatively short album, clocking in at just over 46 minutes, and frequent changes of pace maintain the listener’s interest and prevent it from ever getting stale. A dark and freezing mist woven through opener Hope And Failure layers over a crushing wall of blackened sound. There is a level of clarity to vocalist S‘ furious rasps which makes for easily decipherable lyrics and a vocal delivery that brims with wretched emotion and inner torment.

Jangling guitars take on an ethereal gothic quality on fourth track Solidarity Of Solitude. A slow meandering melody draws the listener in gradually before hitting out with frenzied riffs and harsh soundscapes. Slow-paced interludes take on a dense hypnotic quality, and there is an unwavering intensity that pulls everything into a coherent piece of work that never loses its sheen.

With the gorgeous guest vocals of Ines Brodbeck of INEZONA, Meaningless is the stand-out track on this record. Brodbeck‘s beguiling wails soar beautifully above the music and add yet another layer of haunting elegance to this outstanding dark opus.

All told, Age Of Unreason has all the makings of an outstanding and highly memorable post-black metal album, with that special ingredient that will keep this in the forefront for years to come.

Rating: 8/10

Age Of Unreason is out now via AOP Records.

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