Black Anvil Announce New Album + Release First Single

Press copy accompanying the announcement of Black Anvil’s forthcoming album As Was — and the first single from that album, “May Her Wrath Be Just” — describes the album thusly:

More diverse, complex, and thought-provoking than anything they’ve released previously, As Was is a stellar representation of modern black metal, and of Black Anvil’s continuous progression and songcraft.

I’m way into that description. I can’t yet speak for the album — I’m just now hearing music from it for the first time, along with you — but Black Anvil have been on that trajectory since at least 2014’s Hail Death, and perhaps even their 2010 release Triumvirate. They’re one of the those bands that evolves from album to album, never content to simply repeat what’s worked for them in the past, always striving to push forward. Those are the kinds of bands I like best, and the kind that end up among the greats of all time.

Will Black Anvil be one of “the greats of all time?” Too early to tell, of course, but “May Her Wrath Be Just” is a killer track with the band’s patented mix of black metal and sludge, one that certainly won’t hurt their cause.

As Was comes out January 13th, 2017 via Relapse Records; pre-order physical copies here and a digital version here.