Genre: Black metal
Origin: Poland
Released: 2009
Website: -
Label: EastSide
Uploaded: 08.12.09

Ok, here’s the deal; I don’t care much for involving politics in a genre like black metal, and hence I don’t care for NSBM or that RABM (red and anarchist black metal) thingie that seems to be popping up. To me that’s not what black metal is about, but that’s a too big of an issue to deal with, let’s just say I don’t really want anything to do with either side of the matter. I had never heard of Flame of War previous to receiving this album, and so of course I looked them up. My antipathy was somewhat instant when I read they want to be labeled as “aryan black metal”; not much of a difference compared to NSBM in my book. But hey, I haven’t set any ground rules for promotion material, and I’ve always said I’d review whatever is sent to me, so here we go…
One of the first things I noticed with Transcendence were the length of the songs, ranging from 15 minutes to 26 minutes. In my judgmental state of mind I instantly thought this would be some sort of suicidal black metal, ‘cause that’s usually when you’ll find such lengthy songs. But I was greatly mistaken as what I found was extremely atmospheric and melancholic, but sans any of that annoying howling.
The title track is from start to finish the strongest tune on here. It starts off with several minutes of very melancholic guitar work, and I get some minor flashbacks to some older Ancient Wisdom material. Jeez, the melodic guitar line that sets in is magnificent, and the moody atmosphere is conflicting as I can’t help but to feel a certain groove in such saddened riffing. But as soon as the vocals step in a touch of hatred flares up. The vocals are unlike anything I’ve heard in black metal before. It sounds suppressed in some way, darker and gnarlier than screams, almost as if he’s slowly giving a spiteful speech.
The recipe for all three songs is pretty much the same; slow, melancholic guitars followed by a sped up section only to be slowed down once again. I really enjoy it, no doubt about it, but I still can’t help myself finding the songs quite similar. It is an extremely atmospheric album with the coldness of the riffing, all while the harsh vocals give it a very brutal edge. Imagine a faster Nae’blis on a military excursion.

Tracklist:
01. Transcendence
02. Unity
03. Fate