Kicking off with a dark menacing opener, ‘Ethereal Fire’ emphasizes the blazing tremolo notes and powerful riff structure that enhances the grim sinister tone of Scott Taysom‘s vocals. The use of synth in the background displays the sheer grandeur and depth of the song composition. The guitars now sound more epic despite the changes in rhythm. There are some great ideas of how the band mixes blackened thrash metal riffs with some melodic elements. As the heavily amplified guitars break into a furious tempo in ‘With Fury and Allegiance’ the shimmering blackened riffs waltz through the steady drums. The bass guitar of Billy Robinson also gets some moments to shine in a number of songs.

Guitarists Scott Taysom and Max Brigham deliver plenty of furious and sharp-edged tremolo riffs creating a fast dynamic tempo and while everything sounds sleek, the use of the acoustic guitar section with the waltzing synth creates a spellbinding effect. Heavy thudding drum beats and wailing rhythm guitars reverberate across dark atmospheric sections. However, when the synthesizer is utilized, they provide a sort of cold ambiance in the background. Galloping drum beats are laced with powerful riffs until the slow menacing moments prompt a darker mood in ‘Shadowlands’. Drifting along with the mystic aura of the rhythm guitars, the grand scale of the guitar chords keep the epic black metal feel intact.

The slow melodic approach of the guitars reveals new sonic elements, which is not to say that the guitar arrangements are not heavy or raw, Cloak has simply taken huge steps to hone its craft on its third album and you can easily notice the natural progression of the quartet. The guitar lines are layered with slow, atmospheric passages providing a perfect backdrop for the fierce drums. As the driving riffs fall like a raging storm in ‘Invictus’ the tight grip on melody coalesces with the powerful drums of Sean Bruneau. The riffs on this track are full of hooks and there are plenty of towering guitar solos unleashed.

Going in all guns blazing in a furious blackened tempo in ‘Seven Thunders’, Cloak brings the listener with balls-to-wall black metal swagger. The blazing riffs in the opening of this track lay the groundwork for more powerful and thunderous pounding drums before ascending into a crashing stomp. There is one beautiful verse in the track where the female vocals add a touch of magic. Cloak brings so much diversity to their songs, the melodies vividly portray the unique brand of harmony and despite the songs being often played in the mid-tempo style of black metal, the quartet brings plenty of memorable tunes to the table.

The haunting gothic influences of the mid-nineties, recalling the style of bands like Moonspell and Paradise Lost, are rather showcased in ‘Eye of the Abyss’. It starts off with a mid-paced black metal tempo that builds up a gothic-infused vibe with the haunting whispers of Scott Taysom. The song takes a melodic aspect that uses some acoustic guitar passages and vibrant guitar solo section stuffing the folkish dark textures. ‘The Holy Dark’ perfectly fits the dark gothic style of the band: it starts with a meaty riff accompanied by atmospheric synth, then the pummeling drums pick up the tempo. The melodic guitar lines and the synth brings out some cold haunting moments, leading to some groovy guitar section.,

The instrumental track ‘Heavenless’ combines a perfect combination of strumming guitars and clean vocals sung like whispers to build up a freezing dark atmosphere, an epic track that beautifully captures the band’s unique pathos. The wistful intro of the album’s closure and title track ‘Black Flame Eternal’ conveys chilling tremolo-picked riffs and reverberating bass guitar. The grand guitar arrangements match the overall theme of the album and the steady drums boast the dark melancholic sections, but when the blast beats kicks in the track takes a furious turn.

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