Change is inevitable, as is the gamut of emotions and struggles one faces in life as things ebb and flow,  not always for exclusively good or bad reasons. It’s just the nature of our existence, and sometimes when we sense the need to change the pace or the scenery, it can lead to the floodgate opening as far as inspiration is concerned.

Atmospheric black metal power Eave faced upheaval like many of us have the last few years, shifting from Maine back to their home state of Connecticut after the release of 2020’s tremendous “Phantoms Made Permanent.” The band—vocalist/bassist Brian Tenison, guitarists Ian Shooshan-Stoller and Gabriel Shara, drummer Caleb Porter—returns on “Fervor,” their third album overall and one of their most volatile, as the adjustments they’ve made also have ushered in darkness and fire. The band remains as epically melodic as ever, and the woodsy feel to their music still is a vital part of their DNA. But you can’t mistake the thorniness of these songs as the band reflects on the dark and light elements of existence, as well as our bond with the natural world, in which we’re not always very loving partners.

“Past Pulses” opens spreading heavy cloud cover before the track rips open, tumultuous energy surging behind it. Melodies rush as the playing goes back and forth between calm and raging, guitars flowing with force, and the energy mauls, howls stretching out as the track fades away. “Chance Is a Spectre” rips apart and stampedes with atmospheric force, howls stretching their wings, growls following and adding a more guttural essence. Sounds ache as the playing suddenly goes into calmer water, soothing the scarring from the fires, easing on and eventually fading into the earth. “Mirroring” punches in, corroding and eating away at flesh, growls squeezing at your throat. Breeziness suddenly gives way to chaos, landing punches, the blazing torching everything in its path. The playing cascades and reveals spacious qualities, adding a heavy glaze that makes your mind wander.

“Stale Ash” blisters and savages, melting rock and bone, the howls reverberating as melodies swell, and sounds scorch the earth. Death growls bleed in and smash, anguish bloodies the waters, and the ravaging continues to dangerous lengths, suddenly turning to more tranquil and proggy terrain. That’s temporary as the power combusts, howls echo, and the last of the fuel burns away. “Bending the Light” opens with the bass driving, and the playing rumbles with force, prog fires burning brightly, thunder ripping through the sky. Growls retch as the guitars get grittier, doom buzzes, and the final strains fade into the horizon. “Shards” unleash snarling riffs and marring growls, the pace electrifying, the guitars taking off for the stratosphere. Wild howls ripple through the winds as the vocals get even more ferocious, feedback stings your ears, and the blinding pace makes your blood race forcefully through your veins. Closer “Into Perdition” is dark and cold when it arrives, howls echoing, swirling through the air. Acoustic rush in, adding calm before another catastrophic burst blinds, electric yet folkish melodies explode, and the trudging tempo swings its ax mightily, sinking its blade into the earth for good.

“Fervor” adds something unexpected to Eave’s atmospheric black metal: menace. This album is deadlier and meaner, scorned, hurt than their previous work, and while there remain elements of beauty intertwined, this record feels like being at the heart of a relentless storm. This is a step in a tumultuous direction, and it feels like it’s the product of a band in transition as they still have their hearts fully immersed in the music but now have decided to add a little blood and vitriol for good measure.

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/eavemusic

To buy the album, go here: https://shop.bindrunerecordings.com/

For more on the label, go here: https://www.facebook.com/bindrunerecordings/