The Law of Diminishing Recordings™ is a cruel mistress. She cares not for the effort put forth into any given work, nor does she show any sympathy for passion or skill. In all endeavors, she looms in shadows, in corners, and in crevices, waiting for a chance to bring down her victims a peg. And sometimes, she misses. So far, Pennsylvania wonky blackened death duo Veilburner evaded her attacks with a slithering swiftness, scrying her every move and staying two steps ahead. Futuristic, primal, and strange, Veilburner’s occult curios always find some portal to an improbable space where identification is immediate but engagement is preserved. Can ninth tome All That Glimmers is Gloam achieve the same feat?
If you’ve heard any Veilburner since Lurkers in the Capsule of Skull, then you know what to expect here. Wiry riffs that bend but never break, cymbals that clink and clang like wind chimes made of bone and brass, morphing utterances as inhuman as they are enticing, and an occult atmosphere that burns the air with devilish spice await in every chamber of Glimmers’ constructs. Familiar song structures build upon the more accessible patterns heard in Longing for Triumph, Reeking of Tragedy but the pace and aggression more closely resemble the animalistic The Duality of Decapitation and Wisdom or A Sire to the Ghouls of Lunacy. Psychedelia still establishes a strong foothold as always, which scaffolds the intensity of Veilburner’s writing with a sinewy fluidity that belies its unhinged personality.
For the first time, however, there aren’t as many deviations from prior installments as I expected, which in turn gives the impression that maybe Veilburner is running out of steam. That comes as no surprise to me, after watching the duo drop an album nearly every year since Lurkers.1 Opening duo “Here is Thine Sabbath, So Mote It Chasm” and “Oblivion Is Yours to Labyrinth,” along with later cuts like “Phænomena Obscura,” “Of Godslave and Blood Mortar,” and to some extent the title track closer stuff themselves with trademark Veilburner riffs and evil vocals heavily modulated with effects and other production wizardry, but don’t offer a voice unique to this release. Consequently, each of these numbers could be swapped into one or more of Veilburner’s other records and effortlessly blend into the crowd. They simultaneously lack memorability. Even if I make a conscious effort to recall a riff, a solo, a hooky vocal refrain, precious few come into focus. True to the Law of Diminishing Recordings, I also noticed Veilburner’s application of repetition in this release to make their measures sticky isn’t as effective as it once was. In stronger cuts like “Vitriolic Hiss,” the twangy refrain that gives the song its core still lacks a mutagenic quality that would allow it to evolve over the course of six minutes, robbing the moment of depth and engagement.
On the other hand, Veilburner still constitute a creative force highly capable and willing to take risks and do things just a bit differently. Album highlights “Dis’ Obedient Woe” and “Golgothic Holocaust” are perfect examples therein. In the former, a focus on gentleness, low-frequency clean vocals, and a lulling atmosphere uncovers a new element to Veilburner’s sound that I haven’t heard before—and the remarkable effectiveness with which it’s delivered is refreshing. The latter cut, on the other hand, is one of Veilburner’s wildest and most daring excursions. Twisting, writhing burls trade blows with a howling falsetto wail that I’ve never heard from Veilburner before. It’s terrifying and exciting in equal measure. Somehow, both of these unusual offshoots from the expected formula still give off an unmistakable scent that draws me in like a fly to fruit. Veilburner could hone in on these tracks, break down and discern exactly what makes them stand apart from the others, and use that data to build another high water mark in their discography down the line.
For now, All That Glimmers is Gloam is a competent and familiar work from one of the most recognizable and reliable entities in experimental extreme metal. Yet, it might be the weakest installment in their discography simply because most of what you hear they’ve done before, and often better. The exceptions housed inside this work save me from feeling disappointed with the final product. In fact, they stoke a fire of excitement and interest in me that leads me to believe that Veilburner might be on to something special if they capitalize on those riskier choices going forward. A newfound success is in their hands. All Veilburner need to do is firmly grasp it!
Rating: Mixed
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Transcending Obscurity Records
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook
Releases Worldwide: October 16th, 2026
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