Chicago’s Withering Soul return with their fifth full-length, Passage of the Arcane — a blackened melodic death metal odyssey steeped in cursed lore, burning melodies, and an atmosphere as chilling as grave-silt air. Across eight tracks, the band chart a journey through disappearance, damnation, and mythic ruin, each song its own “passage” into haunted memory.
From the spectral march of ‘Attrition Horizon’ to the closing lament of ‘Burden of the Valiant,’ Passage of the Arcane balances searing tremolo riffs with sweeping melodic phrasing and precise, hammerfall drumming. The guitars of Christopher and Frank G. move between cold grandeur and sharpened assault, while Joel’s bass anchors the record’s weight and Rick’s percussion drives it toward ritual frenzy. The result is immersive, dynamic, and deeply intentional — a record that evolves as it unfolds.
Mixed and mastered by Dennis Israel at Clintworks Audio and wrapped in evocative cover art by Adam Burke (Nightjar Illustration), Passage of the Arcane stands as the band’s most cohesive and cinematic work to date.
Formed in 2004, Withering Soul have long operated within the intersection of death and black metal’s melodic extremities, with albums like Adverse Portrait and Last Contact earning critical acclaim and festival appearances across North America. Passage of the Arcane, out via Liminal Dread Productions on November 14, continues that evolution — darker, sharper, and unmistakably their own.
Stream the full album below — and step beyond the veil.
Passage of the Arcane by Withering Soul
The post Album Stream: Withering Soul – ‘Passage of the Arcane’ appeared first on Decibel Magazine.