Berlin-based black metal project Ungoliath steps further into its own mythos with Shadows of the Eclipse, a full-length album that descends into a scorched, half-forgotten realm. Founded in 2002 by Steffen Kraatz, known as Bane, Ungoliath has always operated in the shadows of the underground, building a singular world called Tendalied where flame, frost, ruin, and prophecy collide. Following 2024โs Whispers of the Gale and the elemental EP The Fourfold Descent in 2025, this album marks Ungoliathโs most ambitious and immersive chapter yet.
Right from the jump, โSealed in Fire, Crowned in Duskโ makes it clear thereโs no easing in. A shrill, hoarse cry rips through the silence before relentless blast beats and grinding, fuzz-drenched riffs take over. The vocals are raw and menacing, less about clarity and more about invocation, as if summoning something ancient and angry. Stretching past the eight-minute mark, the track moves like a slow-burning ritual, balancing ferocity with a cinematic pacing as layers of atmosphere coil around the aggression.
As the album unfolds, Ungoliath leans harder into texture and mood, letting symphonic undertones and ritualistic choral elements seep through the cracks. By the time the title track โShadows of the Eclipseโ arrives, the sound feels fully eclipsed by darknessโrapid, pelting drums fire like artillery. At the same time, distorted riffs churn beneath a haunting, frostbitten atmosphere. Baneโs voice here is deeper and more threatening, echoing through the mix like a proclamation. Itโs oppressive, hypnotic, and oddly triumphant, as if the eclipse is a gathering of buried power.
Lyrically and sonically, Shadows of the Eclipse dwells on extinction, inner collapse, and defiance against cosmic indifference. Ungoliath remains fiercely independent, but this album signals a project growing in scope and confidence. From the ruins, something stirsโand Ungoliath is making sure you hear it breathe.
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Review by: Naomi Joan