Album Review: Darvaza – We Are Him

Album Review 

Artist: Darvaza

We Are Him

Terratur Possessions 

Release Date: December, 05, 2025

Score 7/10 

Review by Rick Eaglestone

The Norwegian-Italian duo Darvaza return with their sophomore full-length offering, three years after the malevolent majesty of Ascending Into Perdition left its blackened mark upon the underground. Omega and Wraath - two seasoned veterans of the adversarial arts whose collective résumé reads like a who's who of European black metal extremity, have channelled their combined decades of experience into We Are Him—a seven-track odyssey through the darkest recesses of spiritual defiance and devotional blasphemy.

From the moment the opening title track "Holy Blood" erupts with its epic introduction before descending into filth-ridden tremolo passages,  Every tortured shriek from Wraath cuts through the mix like a blade, whilst Omega's guitar work weaves intricate tapestries of melodic malevolence that manage to feel both familiar and freshly venomous.

"A Last Prayer in Gethsemane" channels the spiritual torment of its biblical namesake, inverting faith into damnation with an almost ritualistic precision. The track's mid-paced assault allows the full weight of Darvaza's compositional prowess to sink in, proving that ferocity isn't solely measured in blast beats and breakneck tempos. When the band choose to throttle back, as they do on the crushing "Slaying Heaven," the atmosphere thickens to an almost suffocating degree—this is black metal as spiritual warfare, each note a calculated strike against the heavens.

"Chaos.Fire.Devotion" might well be the most aptly titled track in recent memory, perfectly encapsulating Darvaza's essence in three words. Here, the duo demonstrate their mastery of dynamics, seamlessly transitioning between blistering aggression and moments of haunting clarity. The influence of classic Norwegian black metal is undeniable—there are shades of Mayhem's Daemon-era intensity mixed with the grim determination of Urgehal—but Darvaza never feel derivative. Instead, they're channeling the spirit of second-wave black metal whilst infusing it with their own fevered conviction.

What truly elevates We Are Him beyond mere nostalgia-worship is the palpable sense of authenticity that permeates every second. When Wraath howls his adversarial invocations, you believe him. When Omega constructs these cathedrals of darkness note by anguished note, you can feel the devotion behind every riff. 

The album maintains a mostly mid-tempo approach with moderate blast beats and measured double-bass work, creating a hypnotic, almost trance-like quality that draws you deeper into its nocturnal embrace. Tracks like "Darvaza" showcase the band at their most commanding, with Omega's guitar work reaching genuinely inspired heights whilst Wraath delivers some of his most passionate vocal performances. There's an undeniable energy here that speaks to the duo's complete commitment to their craft.

 

The closing title track serves as both culmination and mission statement, representing everything Darvaza stand for on both musical and spiritual fronts. It's here that the album's intensity reaches its peak, leaving the listener in no doubt about the band's unwavering commitment to their adversarial vision. As the final notes fade, there's a sense of having witnessed something genuinely sincere—a ritual completed, an offering made to the darkness..

Perhaps the greatest achievement of We Are Him is its honesty. In an era where black metal has splintered into countless subgenres and stylistic experiments, Darvaza remain steadfast in their vision—creating music for the donning of the cloak, for the enthrallment of the sacrificial night, for bones and dirt and bonfires and sweat.

We Are Him is a worthy addition to Darvaza's growing catalogue and further proof that when executed with conviction and skill, traditional black metal still possesses considerable power.