Back in 2022, I reviewed the solid third album, Lélekharang, from the Hungarian duo, WitcheR (not based on the Andrzej Sapkowski books or Henry Cavill show).
It was a very well done style of Summoning-ish styled atmospheric black metal, focusing on more doomy, and moody pacing, complete with programmed drums and tinny guitars, just like Summoning, but layered with the gorgeous keys of vocalist Karola Gere.
And with Öröklét, we get more of the same, but maybe with some improved songwriting and haunting melodies. The influence is still clearly a much sadder version of Summoning, but now the riffs that sort of play second fiddle to Gere’s keyboards are vastly improved, making for a much better overall album.
I mean, in the first two songs alone deliver much more memorable, if repetitive riffs than the last album. Opener “Örökség” has a just gorgeous, steady melody line that is almost triumphant, and could easily be culled from a Summoning album.
Then the second track, “Szélhozó”, adds some light blast beats and female vocals to an already alluring march and mood, which starts and ends with a piano line to die for.
Gere’s piano work again starts the third track “Röghöz kötött” and its beautifully depressing sway, and then for the title track, there are some utterly gorgeous female vocals bridges that elevate the track from being slightly repetitive and similar to the prior three tracks.
As with Lélekharang, which, after 4 rangy songs, ended on a cover of Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata”, this album, after 4 rangy songs, ends on Schubert’s “Piano Trio No. 2 – Andante con moto”, highlighting Gere’s skill, and ends the album perfectly.
