![moonstruck – kingdom of the dark majesty [demo]](https://www.vm-underground.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Moonstruck-–-Kingdom-of-the-Dark-Majesty-Demo-cover.jpg "Moonstruck – Kingdom of the Dark Majesty [Demo]")
Info
- Band(s): Moonstruck
- Label(s): Signal Rex
- Release Format(s): Cassette, Demo
- Release Year: 2024
- Review Date: October 31, 2024
- Author(s): VincentP
s if delivering one of the best Finnish Black Metal records of 2024 wasn’t enough, Kratti vocalist Haarniska returns once more in the entity Moonstruck. A different band in which the stage is shared with Demonic Torment and Krusifoitu members Arcanos and Human Animal, but there are still a few more resemblances to Kratti to note. For one, it’s again Signal Rex that releases the recording, but more importantly, Moonstruck also delivers Finnish Black Metal of the most exquisite kind.
The musical foundations of Moonstruck’s first demo ‘Kingdom of the Dark Majesty’ are largely the same as those of Kratti, namely based on the likes of Bathory, Satyricon, Darkthrone, Satanic Warmaster, Clandestine Blaze and Musta Surma. With the same raw Black Metal fundament of the band, the riffs bear a threatening and somewhat atonal atmosphere, without lurking too much into Warloghe or Helwetti territories. What mostly sets Moonstruck apart from Kratti is the slightly rawer and less melody-driven sound, and a more distinct Medieval tone to the songs. With a generally unrelenting pace, the largest degree of variation is found in the shifting drum patterns. Don’t worry, the music is far from monotonous, but instead of endlessly meandering riffs or melodies, the effective riffs worm their way into your mind. Haarniska’s raspy shrieks are once again thoroughly convincing, and together with the song arrangement give the demo a piercing Pagan atmosphere. Whether it’s the tempo explosion in ‘The Forces of Maliciousness’, the pulsating pace of ‘Suffering Souls Howls Through the Night’ or the glorious feel of the title track, the four tracks on the demo each display the band’s knack for delivering captivating Black Metal.
After the excellent debut album of Kratti, Signal Rex once again strikes gold with the release of ‘Kingdom of the Dark Majesty’. In my humble opinion, these releases are about as good as Finnish Black Metal has gotten all year, so I can only hope that this Moonstruck demo too will see a vinyl release, and a debut album is on the horizon. Once again a band with a fresh sound that upholds and enforces the impressive status of Finnish Black Metal.
