Purity Through Fire announces October 31st as the international release date for Heraldic Blaze’s debut album, Monument of Will, on CD and vinyl LP formats: Heraldic Blaze – Harken the Peals of May – Trackpremiere
In early 2024, Heraldic Blaze released their debut demo, Blazoned Heraldry, under the banner of Purity Through Fire. From moniker to visual aesthetic and especially to the sonics themselves, the duo of American multi-instrumentalist Argent Pale (vocals, bass, flute) and Norwegian guitarist Peregrinus (Kvad, Hjemsøkt, Solus Grief, Unholy Craft) encapsulated the oft-nebulous „medieval black metal“ idiom with startling aplomb. While it’s often difficult to discern exactly what medieval BM is other than a pithy „I know it when I hear it,“ Heraldic Blaze left no doubt as to their intentions.
However, they’re about to leave all other pretenders in the dust with their full-length debut, Monument of Will. That opening demo definitely laid down Heraldic Blaze’s foundation, but with their first album, everything’s finessed to a superlative, magickal degree; while it’s unjust to call that demo „rough,“ it’s more accurate to call Monument of Will „majestic.“ Whereas that demo had a clean & clanging sound with a hint of ghostly grit and almost surfy reverb, the soundfield on the duo’s debut album is much fuller, more „pro“ but with just the right amount of rawness, and a still-fully-felt physicality that’s authentically the work of humans – or perhaps „warmth“ might be more fitting. Either way, Heraldic Blaze here take their songwriting to new, transcendental heights. The riffing bleeds through into the lead work, and vice versa; the resultant melodies encompass a wide swath of emotions, from melancholy to even hopefulness, with plenty of journeys upon the triumphant. Even the way songs move imparts a narrative element that’s emotional and world-building in equal measure, with Argent Pale’s vocals cementing the catharsis with blanching effect. Altogether, the aura conjured by Monument of Will is no longer so much „medieval black metal“ by conventional definition but rather one of folkloric black metal, open to roam wherever the heart & mind please. Those lamenting the loss of the late Stefan Kozak and his visionary Mystic Forest and Eikenskaden bands, high adventure awaits you here!
