Colorado black metallers Stormkeep will release their The Nocturnes Of Iswylm full-length on June 12 via Vesperian.
Founded in Denver in 2017, Stormkeep has become one of the spearheads of contemporary symphonic black metal. From the beginning, the band’s work has been defined by a clear sense of identity: melodic, atmospheric, and rooted in the genre’s classic tradition, while shaped by their own fantasy-driven world and narrative approach.
Their first official release, the Galdrum EP, arrived in 2020 and quickly established Stormkeep as a band with a distinctive vision. One year later, their debut album Tales Of Othertime (reviewed here) expanded that world further, earning the band strong recognition within the international black metal underground and placing them among the most notable new names in the field.
Now signed to Vesperian, Stormkeep returns with their second full-length album, The Nocturnes Of Iswylm. Continuing the story first opened on Tales Of Othertime, the record further develops the band’s self-described black metal symphonia: a blend of grandeur, medieval atmosphere, and fantastical storytelling, carried by precise songwriting and a strong sense of place.
Produced by the band together with Michael Zech, known for his work with Secrets Of The Moon, Dark Fortress, and The Ruins Of Beverast, and mastered by Arthur Rizk, whose credits include Blood Incantation, Power Trip, and Worm, The Nocturnes Of Iswylm presents Stormkeep’s vision with clarity and depth. The cover artwork was created by Simon Bisley, whose unmistakable visual language adds another striking layer to the world of the album. Additional extensive artwork was created by Valnoir, known for his work with Ulver, Paradise Lost, Amorphis, and more.
Following the late March release of the first single, “Carnal Tapestries Of Nailtorn Flesh,” Stormkeep delivers their second single, “Imperious Sanguine Eroticism.” It offers another view into The Nocturnes Of Iswylm and underlines the band’s position at the forefront of modern symphonic black metal: traditional in spirit, carefully crafted, and fully committed to the world they have built.
The Nocturnes Of Iswylm will be released on standard CD, limited edition cassette (300 copies only available through mailorder, Bandcamp, and the Vesperian webstore), limited CD box (feat. digipak CD, double-sided poster, 4 x photo cards, and 20-page booklet w/ additional art), and digital formats as well as vinyl w/ booklet and extensive artwork in the following color variants:
-Black
-Violet (EU – Ltd. 500)
-Dark Green Ripple (EU – Ltd. 700)
-Green (US – Ltd. 500)
-Blue Marble (US – Ltd. 700)
-Color-In-Color (Bandcamp Europe + Vesperian Webstore Exclusive – Ltd. 300)
-Galaxy 2 color (Bandcamp North America Exclusive – Ltd. 300)
Preorder configurations here.
Tracklisting:
“The Taste Of Immortal Blood”
“The Black Dragons Of Iswylm”
“Saccharine Subjugation”
“Imperious Sanguine Eroticism”
“Echoes In The Vasts Of Sequestration”
“Carnal Tapestries Of Nailtorn Flesh”
“Ballad Of A Fallen Star”
“Imperious Sanguine Eroticism”:
“Carnal Tapestries Of Nailtorn Flesh”:
Stormkeep:
Otheyn Vermithrax – vocals, guitar, keyboards, drums
Apokteino – guitar
Nebula Husk – bass
Lord Dahthar – keyboards
Make sure you are subscribed to the BraveWords YouTube channel, you can listen to new episodes of Metalshop every week.
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/Bravewords666?sub_confirmation=1