Shylmagoghnar - Convergence

Angry Metal Guy 70

Holy shit, Shylmagoghnar doesn’t do itself any favors. Everything about the project seems engineered to scare all but the most committed away. Unpronounceable name that’s a spelling mistake waiting to happen? Check. One-man, home-made black metal? Check. Excessive length and an inability to self-edit on previous albums (both of which clocked in at the 70 minute mark)? Check. And yet, there was something undeniable about the band’s previous output. Both 2014’s Emergence and 2018’s Transience had those rare, “holy shit!” moments that are all too rare in art. Black metal and melodeath combining in harmony in a way not seen since those early Be’lakor gems. The albums were hobbled by their length, the lack of vocals, and a drift towards bloat, but you sensed the potential. Along comes Convergence, the final album in the Shylmagoghnar trilogy. There’s label support this time around, but the band—previously a duo—is now solo. The cover is bland, and there wasn’t a whole lot of buzz. Once again, the band appears to be its own worst enemy…

Convergence, like its predecessors, is 70 minutes of melodeath and black metal, in the vein of Be’lakor, Insomnium and Agalloch. Shylmagoghnar use this aesthetic to create an epic mood rather than beat you down with rage and fury. Previous efforts were expansive explorations into time and space, while Convergence is insular and personal, charting the final journey we all must take to the oblivion of death. Musically, the album is an extension of its predecessors, with some of the songs being purely instrumental, and others featuring harsh vocal work. Fundamentally, Shylmagoghnar is looking to take you on a meaningful journey. If icy, second-wave worship is your bag, this may all be a bit… soft. But for those with an open mind, Convergence offers something very unique.

Convergence by Shylmagoghnar

The most incredible aspect of Shylmagoghnar is creator Nimblkorg’s mastery of the long-form song. Believe it or not, on a 70-minute album, length is not a problem. In fact, it’s a feature. These songs—and the album as a whole—form part of a journey, and they’re so well constructed that the journey, while lengthy, never becomes wearying. There is a deep sense of exploration and wonder to Convergence that never disappears into noodliness or becomes unmoored from the underlying melodies of the compositions. “I Hear the Mountain Weep,” “Infinion,” Convergence” and many others are all epic, expansive bangers that contain real heart and soul. This combination of smart writing, catchy riffs and emotional heft are what make Convergence feel so natural and organic. Best of all, repeat listens only deepen the experience because there is such a surfeit of material here, much of which only becomes apparent with repeat exposure. Finishing the album brings the satisfaction you only get from a story well told.

For all its many virtues, there are a few issues that hold Convergence from true classic status. The first is that the quality of the material isn’t uniform. After an incredible opening trio (seriously, I don’t think has been a better opening trio of songs this year than “I Hear the Mountain Weep,” “Follow the River,” and “Threshold”) there is a slight dip in quality on the following three (“Strata,” “Garden of the Erased,” and “Egregore”), before things pick up again on the back half. Those are not bad songs, but in the context of what surrounds them, they unfortunately stand out. I am also not enamored of the vocals. They’re standard growls, but nothing justifies their prominence in the mix, and they sometimes hide the far more interesting melodies going on around them.

It’s been a while since I have been so conflicted about scoring an album. The good stuff on Convergence is, quite simply, the best melodeath you’ve heard all year, and listening to long-form songs done right, and not simply for excess’ sake, is a joy. Shylmagoghnar’s balance of expansive melody and heartfelt emotion is pitch-perfect, and this album more than justifies the length of its songs. On the other hand, there are some cuts here that don’t quite stand up, not helped by a mismatched vocal mix. But make no mistake, Convergence is a worthy end to a fantastic trilogy that absolutely demands your consideration. It combines the best of the two previous albums and brings everything to an immensely satisfying conclusion. For a band that often sounds like a punchline, that’s an extremely impressive achievement. Put your preconceptions away and take a listen.

Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Napalm Records
Websites: shylmagoghnar.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/Shylmagoghnar
Releases Worldwide: November 10th, 2023

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