EP Review: Cysgod - Rites of the Anghenfil

EP Review 

Artist: Cysgod

Rites of the Anghenfil 

Release Date: July 13, 2025

Score 8/10 

Review by Rick Eaglestone

 There is something particularly appealing about  shadowy figures emerging from our grey industrial landscapes, channelling centuries of folklore and ancient darkness into crushing waves of raw, uncompromising hatred, this is pretty much the agenda from one-man black metal project Cysgod on EP Rites of the Anghenfil. - delving deep into themes of ancient British folklore and pre-Christian mythology,  Anghenfil (a Welsh term for monster or beast) serving as both a literal and metaphorical presence throughout.

Opening with "Cold Moonlit Graves, immediately establishes the suffocating atmosphere that permeates the entire EP. The guitar work cuts through the mix like rusted razors, while the vocals which sound like they're being torn from his throat by some unseen force. The production, deliberately raw and unpolished, serves the material perfectly. This isn't meant to sound clean or accessible; it's meant to feel like it was recorded in some forgotten catacomb at 3am.

What sets Rites of the Anghenfil apart from the countless other raw black metal releases flooding the underground is the genuine sense of menace that radiates from every track. "Plaque Essence" builds from haunting into an absolute maelstrom of blast beats and tremolo-picked fury, whilst track "Druids Mace" has an authentic sense of ritualistic purpose that elevates the material above mere noise. The blackened undertones of early Venom are particularly enjoyable especially the solos 

While purists might argue that the lo-fi approach is becoming clichéd in modern black metal, Cysgod use it as an instrument in its own right. The way the drums disappear into static during blast sections, only to emerge crystal clear during the more atmospheric passages, creates an unsettling sense of being lost in a sonic fog. It's deliberately disorienting, and it works brilliantly.

Closer "Bard of the Black Dreigaiu" is not only the EP's longest track by a mile but is absolutely is crowning glory as collectively the soundscapes and vocal delivery highlight an ever evolving maturity that should invoke a sense of excitement in the for listener for future releases    

Cysgod have created something that feels both authentically ancient and urgently contemporary, a collection of songs that work both as individual compositions and as part of a cohesive ritualistic whole.