Those of you who know the difference between a trebuchet vs a catapult, gather round as we return to the realm of castles, be they conquered and disposed, or not. If you had to Google the difference, that’s fine too, because we still have a pillaging to get to. International two-piece Heraldic Blaze have arrived onto the scene with their full-length Monument of Will, fresh on the heels of their sole demo Blazoned Heraldry last year. That demo was a tidy little slab of slightly raw melodic folky black metal, with a presentation that buried some of the brighter moments in the expected fog of underproduction. With such a quick turnaround from inception to full length, will these be the knights in shining armor you’ve been looking for? Or is this album more plow than battle axe?
Heraldic Blaze lead the charge with a sound which is clear and crystalline, with guitar tones as golden and polished as its artwork. Far from being overproduced, it sounds organic and clear while still allowing melodic leads and requisite trems to craft a full and spacious sound. Norwegian guitarist Peregrinus strings together chord progressions that shift from melancholic to borderline optimistic (“The Proffered Word”) in a heartbeat, seamlessly shifting from full chord riding to intricate, multi-layered leads to give the compositional touch of a full band. The overall tone of Monument of Will eschews sheer aggression or stereotypical EEEEVILLLLLLL trappings to create an atmosphere that stimulates the imagination without ever letting the mood overwhelm the power of the writing. The name of the game across the release is hooks, with earworms and catchy moments to be found throughout. From the moodier interpositions of “Steel Sun Bleeds Gold” to the triumphant major keys of “Locustial Wind”, Heraldic Blaze take the listener on a journey which is at once engaging and energetic.
The distinguishing flavor of Monument of Will is enhanced by American vocalist/bass player Argent Pale, who also adds flourishes across the album with his playing of a flute. Yes, a flute. The flute’s arrival is no mere MIDI patch, but genuinely performed, with his breath between scales audible, adding a touch of raw and authentic charm. Other than the mood-setting intro and one interlude before the album finale, it is only deployed at well-timed moments to add flavor to some of the riffs (“Monument of Will”, “The Slaying of Ophis”), without devolving into a gimmicky crutch. Peregrinus shows a Midas Touch with his riff craft, frequently scaling back his chord progressions into more open runs, which support and harmonize the flute leads rather than acting as a blast furnace of noise underneath, giving the instruments harmony and support and adding staying power to the melodies without sacrificing any of the musical might or power.
The net result is a riff-centric, vibrant album which manages to be both beautiful and forceful in equal measure. I would be remiss not to note the drummer’s performance, a session drummer named in the promo sheet as “Kave.” He puts on a virtuoso performance that drum aficionados should find much joy from. He possesses a real talent for mercurial cymbal fills (“An Ignoble End”) and constant beat evolutions where repeated motifs in chord progressions are treated with slightly modified rhythmic presentation, ensuring no sustained passages ever suffer from monotony or become overly familiar. This treatment of the drums as its own full instrument rather than a tool to abuse blast beats (as is common) gives Heraldic Blaze the last push forward to have a distinct and charming flavor in the medieval-tinged black metal world, Combined with well crafted leads and compositions which manage to evoke a full spectrum of human emotions, Monument of Will stands out like its bright artwork as a, dare I say, upbeat presentation of black metal in a scene of ever-competing darkness.
As a reviewer, Heraldic Blaze is the sort of discovery you dream of finding in the pit, and I can find little to fault with this release. The opening instrumental isn’t quite as strong as the more well-thought-out interlude near the back end, and the final track seems slightly anticlimactic in how it suddenly ends such a journey of an album. But these quibbles are minor. Monument of Will has been a charming discovery and a delightful late-year release. Now grab your torch and pitchforks and let’s get to sieging!
Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Purity Through Fire
Website: Album Bandcamp
Releases Worldwide: October 31st, 2025
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