Metalcatto
Look. It’s Icelandic Black Metal from Germany (you read that right). AAAAHHH. Now that I’ve calmed down, I can say that Fyrnask is exactly what I mentioned before: a band from the school of endless cold caves and godless volcano eruptions, but most of all, ridiculously long tracks. However, you’re not here to know all this—you already know. You’re here to find out if Íosir will defy your patience or help you travel to a darker time.
So yes, Íosir fits all the stereotypes of the cavernous school: long tracks, dense and corrosive atmosphere, clean but engulfing production. But it has other, more classical touches. The riffing is simply more furious and direct, something that might remind you more of acts like Belphegor or Marduk. There’s that sense of mystery, but also uncontrollable rage that feels strongest in the beginning of the album. So be happy, because you’ll probably won’t get bored this time.
I’m pretty satisfied with the riff mayhem this album offers. Don’t get me wrong, Icelandic-themed Metal has its vibe, but it also tends to sit on the same riffs for four minutes. So it’s refreshing to have a band that does that for two minutes. Anyway, it doesn’t feel as eternal. The vocals are also curious. They sound straight out of an old Death Metal album, so if you’ve always hated the banshee shrieking, then you’ve finally found the Black Metal album that will shut you up—not make you whine—and finally grow a pair of… guts. Yet, I do have to whine about a few things.
The pace is the enemy here. Sure, the album is long, the tracks too, but that’s not exactly the problem. The issue is how the album becomes more atmospheric as it reaches the sunset. I understand we need variety in this slaughter, but the first half is so potent that I can’t help but feel the album could have either kept pushing the gas or cut off ten minutes of its runtime. This would have helped keep us engaged and not wonder off much at all.
Yet Fyrnask is absolutely worth your money if you want Black Metal that bends the rules but doesn’t completely deconstruct them Imperial Triumphant-style. It stays loyal to what has become a tradition, but it does it well. It does take you to that dark and dreadful world full of superstition and poor personal hygiene. So if you’re ready for a journey through the ice and the ash, Íosir will guide you there—just make sure you have the patience for the long haul. It’s not a sprint. It’s a slow, cold crawl into the abyss. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.
Label: Ván Records
Release date: 12 June, 2026
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Fyrnask/
Country: Iceland
Score: 3.5/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 