Three decades into their existence, Frostmoon Eclipse return with As Time Retreats, their eighth studio album — and arguably their most introspective to date. Far from clinging to the raw orthodoxy of the Norwegian second wave, the Italian outfit embraces a more emotional and multifaceted approach, where the frost of black metal melts into the melancholy warmth of doom and unexpected echoes of classic rock.
The album opens with “Transient,” a track that immediately sets the tone: cutting riffs wrapped in sorrowful melodies, harsh vocals alternating with clean, almost fragile passages. This duality permeates the entire record, especially in “Out in the Grey Light,” where darkness is painted in soft, ethereal hues. A guest appearance by Fen’s vocalist adds another layer of depth, as if the album breathes through different lungs.
There are moments when the album wanders through existential ruins — “Universe Black Vacuum” and “No Place Left to Leave” evoke a cosmic void without losing their sense of beauty. “Char These Bones to Coal” feels like a sonic purification ritual, where emotional weight turns to ash.
The closing track, “Eschaton,” deserves special mention: an eight-minute journey that encapsulates everything the album stands for — the end of time as a metaphor for internal collapse, with weeping guitars and whispered vocals marking the descent.
As Time Retreats it’s a meditation on time, loss, and the persistence of beauty in barren landscapes. Frostmoon Eclipse don’t merely survive time — they bend it, distort it, and turn it into art.
For fans of: Bizarrekult, Katatonia, Darkthrone (experimental phase), Khold
https://frostmooneclipse.bandcamp.com/album/as-time-retreats-album-2025
BLACK METAL CULT 