Argesk – Moonlight Pyromancy
Argesk – Moonlight Pyromancy
Matriarch Records
17/10/2025
8/10
Review by Oli Gonzalez
“Have you ever listened to Argesk?”.
A question a posed to a fellow Black-Metal-loving friend of mine, moments before getting I got stuck into “Moonlight Pyromancy” by Argesk. A band I really should have listened to by now, given their proximity to my current city of residence here in Manchester. Describing themselves as Melodic Black Metal, I was really curious to see how this would transpire. How can a genre so fierce and intense ever be Melodic? Well, Argesk have the answer!
Throughout the album, you’ll hear the usual suspects in Black Metal; blast beats, and KVLT shrieks. But it’s the way that Aidan and Matt approach the guitar that gives them a distinct Melodic edge.And by that I mean it’s distinct compared to other bands I’ve come across in the genre. Typically, the aim is to make the axe sound as dissonant as possible and defy typical songwriting conventions. Though here, it seems like the strings stay within the more aesthetic and welcoming major scales. ‘Accursed Victory’ is perhaps the best example of this, giving the song an almost Symphonic Power Metal feel at times. The band employ Leth’s skills on the keys to great effect in this song too, and whilst they’re not the first band to have a synth player, here the instrument gets the spotlight and gets to be the melodic focal point. Leth also lends cleaner vocals in parts of the album, adding an extra dimension to the band’s complex sound. Though the synths get a real main character performance in ‘Tempest’. With a tranquil, harp-like effect to soothe an aching soul, this juxtaposes elegantly with the ferocity and chaos of the rest of the music! Fans of Eldamar will be satiated here, and understand that light does shine brightest in the dark after all.
Argesk demonstrate that they want to take rhythmic approaches and go beyond the typical genre blast beats during ‘Black Castle Waltz’. The keyword being both metaphorical and literal, spelling what kind of groove we have here.
The highlight of the album? That’s easy; ‘Servant Of Fire’. This demonstrates everything wonderful about Argesk as they show that they’re a band intent on breathing new life into a sometimes stale genre…and doing so remarkably well!
“I haven’t but I’m listening to them right now. I really like what I’m hearing. The musicianship, the production, the vocals, everything was perfect” my friend reported back after listening to “Realm Of Eternal Light”. Two new fans then for Argesk!
TRACKLISTING:
01. Invocation (Intro)
02. Servant Of Fire
03. Accursed Victory
04. Black Castle Waltz
05. Wreathing Serpent
06. Tempest
07. Moonlight Pyromancy
08. Black Castle Waltz (ft Dean Seddon)
LINKS:
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