Black metal come in two broad categories: The melodic and the non-melodic variants. This is a prime example of the former. Actually it almost overrides the concept, as it utilizes every single tool in the melodic black metal toolbox.

In the Absence of Light (IAL) contains extensive use of synth and samples, and blends the traditional black with a healthy dose of doom and goth metal. Aforementioned samples are of the extremely cliche-based sort: wolf howls, enigmatic occult gibberish, church bells, the works.

If this album was not put together so delightfully well, it would be ridiculous – like a mixture of early Moonspell and equally early Cradle of Filth.

But it really is put together delightfully well, with a superior flair for melody. With measures of soft almost symphonic pieces perfectly attuned to the measure of noisy guitar riffs and liberally used bass-drums.

The best part though, is that lead singer Sorceron (the only original member of the band) can actually sing and growl very well – unlike 80% of melodic black metal vocalists who scream like little girls on speed.