The Swedes and the Dutch drummer keep the quality on par with the blackened and furious black metal bands of the nineties. The epic opening of the first track ‘The Fields in Nadir’ sets the tone for a cold icy and grim approach. However, the precision of the drum fills and performance capture the sound of sinister melodies which are more on the forefront. The drum fills and blast beats are fired furiously. The blackened riffing thunders fully to integrate the guitar solos, melodies and the grim vocals of Sebastian Ramstedt, imbuing the epic coldness.

While expanding from the style of Necrophobic, the guitars are powerfully amplified and much more effective. Thus, the guitars cover a range of tremolo-picked riffs and cold icy melodies. The lead guitars shimmer and shine in the track ‘A Winter Moon’s Gleam’. The epic intro creates depth for the guitar hooks. With drummer Marco Prij providing a metallic coating to the chilly tremolo-picked riffs, his performance on the album showcases great talent. The mid-tempo of each song is structured through slow passages and atmospheric melodies building toward vicious riffing.

In Aphelion‘s songwriting can be attributed as old school Swedish black metal. Many elements are borrowed from the epic albums of Bathory and Dissection. The blast beats foray into absolute grimness in the next track: ‘When All Stellar Light Is Lost’ injects the typical Swedish black metal elements; blast beats thundering with bone-chilling vocals combining a furious mix of tremolos and slow mid-tempo passages and breaks into a blizzard of guitar solos, courtesy of Sebastian Ramstedt.

The typical black metal shrieks are in abundance, and the guitars are perfectly wrought to cover plenty of atmospheres. This is because the guitar arrangements wear some killer heavy metal gimmicks in the track ‘The Darkening’. The tempo and intensity are measured allowing the impressive detail work of the guitars to shine throughout the album. With the harshness of the vocals and the tremolo melodies being emphasized, the main riffs have their charm despite the slower tempo of the songs.

Venomous and menacing, In Aphelion set a very high standard for the sophomore. The drums present a flawless combination of aggression and blast beats as every riff stems from the traditional roots of black metal. In tracks like ‘They Fell under Blackened Skies’ the drums blaze forth with intense aggression and bring torrential blast beats. The riff work on this track is exceptional and never sacrifices its chainsaw thrashing riffs to the evil bursts of spewing pure fucking Armageddon. Veering into a catchy guitar solo section, followed by blistering blast beats and double bass, it continues to create some epic rhythm melodies and atmosphere.

Thrashy blackened riffs and scathing tremolos possess a classic aura of Swedish black metal. While ‘Further from the Sun’ is one of the catchiest that combines the abrasive elements of Scandinavian epicness, the musicianship defines the quality of the sophomore. The guitar work here enhances the atmosphere as the track begins with solid drumming. There are some outstanding elements like the bass guitar and the grim vocals which follow the catchy melodic guitars engulfing the ears with dense and bleak moments. Especially, the guitar solos enshroud you in cold canvas.

‘Reaperdawn’ and the final track ‘Aghori’ unleash a blizzard of tremolo each riff flows into the next one with the Yngwie J. Malmsteen like solos. Though this is the shortest track on the album, clocking for three minutes, it somehow packs aggression and rapid drumming.

In Aphelion blends an epic intro in the latter track, mixing different genres and the result is amazing. Dark, majestic guitar textures provide the ambient atmosphere of this eight-minute track which continues to a powerful and memorable climax, with all its melancholy moments and melodic guitar patterns.

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