Since their formation started in 1996, symphonic black/death metal crafters Ceremonial Castings have summoned the darkest, atmospheric and creative musical wonders in the genre. Whether it be their compassion in making incredible pieces of extreme metal or sharing lyricism involving Satanism, witchcraft or Salem trails, this band from my hometown in the Pacific Northwest have been a absolute thrill ride in hearing such majestic, blackened and symphonic black metal compositions that is surely met with such high expectations. Those unaware of Ceremonial Castings, they’re a symphonic black/death metal band from Battle Ground, Washington formed in 1996 founded by The Witcher also known as Jake Superchi which you may also best known him for his amazing contributions for the melodic black metal project UADA and alongside with him is his brother OldNick also known as Nick Superchi who also contributed his side project known as Mysticism Black.
Our Journey Through Forever created a huge leap and bound to incorporate many different structures including the first half where they borrowed influences from Emperor, Dark Fortress, Limbonic Art, Obtained Enslavement and the theatrical sound from Carach Angren with a Satanic, witchcraft, HP Lovecraftian style of symphonic black metal with death metal tendencies is absolutely top notch as I feel more people need to appreciate the songwriting, lyrical content, progressive undertones and philosophy these musicians created is nothing but art at its finest hour. Not only this release sounds incredibly sharp and organic terms of sound quality and progression, but the instrumentals sounding sharp and precise than ever before, but this is one of the rare occasions where I prefer a mastered and updated album that’s modernized and structured to the root of its core. Tracks such as Bewitching Black Metal, Sweet Misery I Forsee, Universal Funeral March, Immortal Black Art and The Fall Of Man have layered compositions, variable tempos and a lost touch of humanity with convicting emotions as each song represents a powerful, yet stricken violence to a world where everything’s sinister.
The beauty, nature and discipline for these talented musicians bring real understandings that’ll leave the listener baffled, desperate and confused. Musically and lyrically, you’ll get standard blast beats, programmed synthesizers, genocidal guitar tones and intense, and massive vocal variations prior to past Ceremonial Castings albums and if this is the type of sound, production and compositions of these Washingtonians are capable of, then I’m on board entirely to see if any future material from this band can pull off such a atmospheric and darkened sound. But to celebrate such a huge milestone into Ceremonial Castings career, Our Journey Through Forever is stronger, tighter, darker, more enhanced and just comes to show for a band who’s artistic talent portraying the darkest pieces of music in the scene right now really executed themselves to deliver the most successful, well crafted and captivating releases in the symphonic black and death metal world and definitely a contender for best albums of 2022 list.
Overall Score: 10/10
Review by Jake Butler
