Having somehow existed on this planet for half a century, it’s weird to think my fullest and best self is the one living right now. You have a chance to learn from your past and find what inside of you really makes you go. You give less of a fuck what other people think. You’re the only person who can actually hurt you. It’s pretty great, actually.

Reading about how “Morning Star,” the latest and third record from black metal adventurers Këkht Aräkh, made me think about this and this effort is said to be their creation closest to the preferred form. Sole creator Dmitry (known here as Crying Orc) said the on this record, “I feel more like myself than ever before,” and you can hear it in these 17 songs and 50 minutes that play out like an ancient tale you’re reading. Crying Orc is joined by myriad guests here to realize the vision which still is thorny, and metallic, and lo-fi but also infuses more folk tendencies into the sound. Oh, and 17 songs might seem like a lot, but the record flows really well, just kind of flying past you.

“Wänderer” starts with guitars melting into time, howls erupting, melodies rushing over raw, unpolished grounds. The electricity has a dreamier edge, the leads welling, cleaner notes dripping over your brain. “Castle” opens in whispers before gutting cries erupt, guitars charging as rich leads take control. The tone is both grisly and infectious, Crying Orc wailing, “I stay in my castle!” as the temperatures drop, leaving you shivering. “Lament” fires up, the vocals clawing into flesh, the playing buzzing before darkening. Folkish singing spreads, guitars gashing, slowly fading away. “Genom sorgen” features VS—55, acoustics fluttering, rustic singing adding spark to this rustic folk piece. Sounds smear as accordions echo, ghosts fleeing the room. “Angest” fires up, ravaging with force, growls calls cloud as hypnotic vibrations ripple your spine, guitars fading in a hush. “Mörker över mörker” tears in, black metal waves crushing, glorious leads knifing through the smoke. Howls crackle as mystical forces steamroll, blowing right into “Three winters away” that continues to amplify the fury. Howls retch as clean calls unfurl, guitars catching speed. Fire blasts, spitting nails, anguish squeezed from swollen hearts. “Drömsång” is softer, clean singing wafting, sometimes harmonizing, the dreaminess floating into your mind, easing into the void. “Raven king” returns to folkish terrain, the song then kicking in and destroying with power. The vocals ice your psyche as ashen black metal returns, solemn melodies darkening.

“Vigil” shifts, Crying Ork calling, “I let the night die,” tornadic fire breathing heavily. Howls bristle as the singing lures, acoustics sweeping away. “Eternal martyr” features Bladee offering vocals, a devastating pace exploding into the sky. Whispers fall as guitars fire up, the vocals jolting with emotion, higher lines making your psyche sting. “Trollsång” has Spöke as a guest, keys dripping as flutes take to the air, the singing tapping into your subconscious, blending into the atmosphere. “Land av evig natt l” enters with daring acoustics, singing layering through a woodsy, dew-splashed wilderness, vocals blending into each other. “Land av evig natt ll” is the bloodier half, guitars firing as the vocals maul, the pace stirring so hard, it feels like you’re locked in vertigo. Howls buzz as the drums mash, acoustics joining the fray, clean calls ringing as the colors blur wildly. “Gates” attacks and bustles, guitars sending icy tributaries, the heat suddenly rising. The thorniness wraps around bone as guitars dash, speak-singing drives, as the final moments of calm encircle your mind. The title track is almost a ballad, clean and solemn, accordion echoing, atmospheric darkness draining. Strings glide, and the melody gives more of an early aughts indie vibe, flushing your heart with tenderness. Closing “Outro” features Varg2™, spacey waves causing your energies to fade, the cosmic energy cresting.

This record, as seemingly overstuffed as it may appear when just looking at the track listing, moves nicely, with “Morning Star” flowing by and filling your mind with chaos and wonder. Këkht Aräkh have provoked and enraptured listeners ever since the project’s start, and if this is the band coming closer to its real form, then we are in some exciting times. This is an album that weirdly can be a companion for days outside, personal reflection, and still allowing sections of darkness into the room.

For more on the band, go here: https://kekhtarakh.bandcamp.com/

To buy the album, go here: https://www.sacredbonesrecords.com/products/sbr-377-kekht-arakh-morning-star

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