There are actually two sounds at work here – in its more frenzied moments, Inarborat conjures the frosty blizzard-riffs and blastbeats of classic Norwegian acts like Enslaved or Immortal. And when they slow down to a more mysterious, somber pace, the mood recalls the romantic stirrings of Drudkh, Wildhoney-era Tiamat and yes, Inarborat‘s Romanian namesake. Some of the melodies are actually quite lovely, as on “Schwingenbruch” or “The Brook Lies Silent.”

There’s little ornamentation to be had here – a lone acoustic interlude on one track and some chiming, Burzum-ish tones on the lengthy “Wisdom Sans Words” – meaning that the songs’ ability to craft a mood rely on composition and melody alone. The hoarse, raspy German vocals are mostly buried under the guitars, and the already harsh edges of that language lend a distinctive sense of menace to the mood.

As with a lot of pure, classic black metal, repetition plays a key part in the experience, so that the album can sometimes drift away at times. Those looking for a riveting, start-to-finish listen may find their attention wandering, but I didn’t find this to be a problem. Sometimes what you want is just to zone out into that uniquely contemplative black metal headspace.