Musically speaking Grîmmöld merges black metal and dark ambient in what is generally known as dungeon synth. There is a lot of variety in the songs, and sometimes the transitions between the harsh black metal and the more contemplative moments are non-existent, and that affects the listening experience, in my opinion. This is perhaps even more evident in a long work like the album: the continual variation breaks the thread continually, making the album less enjoyable; on the other hand, this is an intrinsic characteristic of the genre.
In conclusion, I do not think that The Dying Kings of Man excels in originality, but it is a well-crafted album for sure. So if you like dungeon synth, I highly recommend you to listen to this album; you will love it.
Notes:
The Dying Kings of Man was independently released on April 2, 2021 only digitally.
Personnel:
Grîmmöld: guitar, vocals, synths
Guest musicians:
Thane: drums
Text by Herjann
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