‘Immaculate Hearts Will Triumph’ by Great Cold Emptiness

Some of the best black metal acts in business right now are not on the mainstay labels, despite the popularity that is often derived from being associated with names like Season of Mist and Relapse Records. One of the most interesting labels out there is Flowing Downward, featuring acts like Abstract Void, Vials of Wrath, and Great Cold Emptiness. What’s distinct about this particular label is how they represent artists from various black metal subgenres, including blackgaze, blackwave, and atmospheric black metal. It’s a beautiful blend that only a smaller label can pull off so brilliantly.

Great Cold Emptiness happens to be one of the most interesting artists on the entire roster. With a hybrid approach to black metal, both inducing atmosphere and aggressiveness throughout each record, Great Cold Emptiness embodies what is beautiful about black metal’s evolution. With the recent album release of Immaculate Hearts Will Triumph, the Canadian black metal mastermind has released a brilliant 4-song album.

“The Patron Saint of Whalewatching”, the entry track to the record, is a perfect introduction to newcomers of the artist, with both a driving and melodic approach to their brand of black metal. As bizarre as it may sound, there’s almost a happy vibe derived from this track, which is strangely settling. There’s a sense of calm and peace that is hard to pinpoint, but it’s there.

“To Die for the Ideal” takes you into a bit of a darker spin, retaining the atmospheric melody. “She Sang of Hyperborea” is fantastical, lasting over 13 minutes, and filled with layers that are more reminiscent of a soundtrack than a black metal record.

Arguably the most interesting track on the entire album is “With Friends Like These”, a song that begins with ambience and eventually finds itself mimicking a blackwave rave. It’s absolutely fantastic. The ability for Great Cold Emptiness to contort sonically and emotionally throughout the album makes this one of the best black metal releases of 2023 (so far). It’s early in the year, but this album sets a high bar for the next 10 months.

You can follow Great Cold Emptiness on Bandcamp, Facebook, and Instagram.