Before I start this review, I want to mention that prior to hearing this album, I had only listened to the band’s release Kosturnice, which I thought was quite good. With that in mind, diving into their new material was genuinely exciting. In this review, I’ll be highlighting a few standout tracks along with some particularly cool moments throughout the album.

Kletve Lovor:

For me, this was a brilliant song in many ways. When it ended, I was left saying “wow.” It has a very forward-driving momentum that gives a real sense of haste. The drums are extremely fast, with impressive blast beats, but they’re mixed in a way that doesn’t overpower the track… unlike a lot of black metal these days.

Around the 3:30 mark, the speed gives way to some nifty guitar solos with a clear yet intentionally unpolished tone (in a good way). That sound adds character and really fits what’s happening in the background.

The closing moments of the song are what truly cement it as an absolute banger. I loved how the drums lock into the snares, creating a marching feel that the guitars and vocals briefly build upon, resulting in a powerful and memorable finale.

Besi:

Another amazing track. The introduction is excellent. So much so that on my first listen, its calming nature (lasting nearly 50 seconds) had me convinced it was going to be an ambient interlude to break up the album. I was pleasantly surprised when the double bass drums kicked in alongside those awesome guitar chords, slowly building on themselves before a massive drum fill launches the song into full force. A truly brilliant intro.

Speaking of drums, this track genuinely showcases the power of their drummer. An absolute powerhouse. The precision during the fast sections, combined with tasteful additions of cymbal and snare hits for extra flair, is very impressive. This song highlights the band’s ability to shift from rapid speed to a more measured pace in an instant… a pretty impressive display of skill and control in my opinion.  Great stuff on this one guys.

Sveåa je dogorela

This song was also one of the standout ones for me personally. I liked the approach of going for a more in-your-face kind of beat, especially the way the track first bursts into loads of layers—multiple guitars and hard-hitting drums—which summon a tribal/marching style. (Shout out to the really cool accents on the hi-hat in this intro.)

I also really enjoyed the breakdown-styled part that happens just before the chorus section. I wish there was a bit more playing like this throughout the album, but beggars can’t be choosers, I guess.

3:37 surprised me as well, to be honest—but for sure in a good way. The way the main instruments slowly fade out and then you hear a nice soundscape of various ambient effects is a great way to end the album.

Overview:

After hearing this album in it’s entirety I can now give a score based on what i’ve enjoyed and what I thought could be better.

I think this band has some pretty cool strengths, such as being able to change the direction of a song very quickly, having a knack for creating really nice chord progressions that layer super well with the other melodies, and a drummer who has some serious skill when it comes to changing tempo and delivering brilliant drum fills. You can also tell there’s a lot of thought put into how each section transitions and evolves... The Stone are clearly not afraid to experiment, that much is certain! All in all, while there were some songs I enjoyed way more than others, I’d give this album an 8/10, mainly down to personal preference. That said, this is one of those reviews where, just because I give it an 8/10, I know it would easily be a strong 9/10 or more for someone who’s more into that “Stones”-style sound.