apanthropy

Outlaw
Opus Mortis
AOP Records
To Be Released: 10/31/25

Rating: 82/100

“Invoking the ancient spirit of melody-prominent blasting black metal, Outlaw have constructed one of the stronger black metal executions of the year in terms of musical prowess. While clean and modern, ‘Opus Mortis‘ still radiates a cold pall of death and miasma, providing the listener with a hellride of voracious speed and melodic phrasing. The wheel is not being reinvented here, it is simply made to crush and destroy, as it has and always will.“

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1 – Blaze of Dissolution
2 – Through the Infinite Darkness
3 – The Crimson Rose
4 – A Million Midnights
5 – Those Who Breathe Fire
6 – A Subtle Intimation
7 – Ruins of Existence
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Melodic black metal with intense tempos and punishingly violent riff structures is not a new science. Going back several decades, into the early 1990s, bands such as Marduk and Dissection constructed the formulae that was celebrated on records such as 1993’s Those of the Unlight and The Somberlain. Blasting black metal that was heavily reliant on leading melodic phrases, often tremolo picked single-note or configurations of two to three note chords, coupled with a constant barrage of blast beats and rolling double bass. The concept was further explored throughout the mid-to-late 90s by bands such as Watain, Dark Funeral, and Emperor, all well-established legacy acts.

Outlaw are a nomadic international act that invokes and echoes the ancient sounds of the legacy bands that have come before them. The high-speed melodically expansive strain of black metal that was championed in the early days of the scene is put to textbook execution on Opus Mortis, the band’s fourth and newest full-length, set for proper release on October 31st through AOP Records. Seven tracks at 42 minutes in length, the band masterfully rip through high-speed melodic phrases and periods of outright full on grinding chromatic slaughter that could possibly be one of the strongest black metal albums of the Autumn season, by a significant margin.

‘Blaze of Dissolution’ opens the record, a necrotic burst of high-speed melodic black metal. The band, in an expert manner, merge simplistic grinding rhythm chord progressions with expressive fills, crushing blast beats, and relentless double bass. Over top the churning abyssal madness is a near constant unbroken melodic line. Vocals consist of a modern take on traditional black metal execution, nothing overwhelming, but fitting well for the music. Rhythm and tempo changes dominate the composition, the slight presence of keyboards provide tasteful accents to the song’s bridge, and the flow of the track is seamless and fluid.

In a similar manner of execution is the dominating ‘A Million Midnights,’ a boastful and caliginous triumph of blasting black metal that channels the powerful spirit of Dark Funeral and the melodic razor-sharp riffing of Dissection. The constant melodic whipping provides a sweeping and epic sensation to the flow of the music. This is pure rhythmic battery and an impressive display of percussive stamina.

‘A Subtle Intimation’ begins to wind the record down with an intro compromised of clean guitars and atmospheric noise. A harmonized, layered, melodic riff opens the composition, invoking a majestic yet dreary emotional state. The doubled guitars and their chord progression during both verse and chorus are nothing short of audio beauty and the slight addition of simple synth pad keyboards adds depth of character to the execution.

Terminating the record is ‘Ruins of Existence,’ a slighter slower track that emphasizes powerful chord progressions and melodic interaction. At times, consisting of two dueling and thrashing melodies, the prominence and use of these melodies peak here on the final track. Less crowded than the rest of the record, ‘Ruins of Existence’ allows the band to explore a more expansive and atmospheric approach. Ending on somber piano work, the ritual comes to an end.

Production on Opus Mortis favors the relationship between guitar and percussion, with both guitar tracks occupying a similar frequency and range in a tonal sense, coupled with the dynamic mixing and frontal presence of the drums. Vocals are sandwiched between, prominent and strong, but not quite overwhelming and brash, as you would hear on many, many black metal records.

Invoking the ancient spirit of melody-prominent blasting black metal, Outlaw have constructed one of the stronger black metal executions of the year in terms of musical prowess. While clean and modern, Opus Mortis still radiates a cold pall of death and miasma, providing the listener with a hellride of voracious speed and melodic phrasing. The wheel is not being reinvented here, it is simply made to crush and destroy, as it has and always will.

Label: AOP Records
Band: Outlaw

AJK