Review: Autrest - Burning Embers, Forgotten Wolves (2025)

Band: Autrest Album: Burning Embers, Forgotten Wolves Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal Country: Brazil Label: Northern Silence Productions Released: September 5, 2025

Introduction

Emerging from the southern highlands of Brazil, Autrest has quickly become one of the more compelling new voices in atmospheric black metal. The one-man project, helmed by multi-instrumentalist Matheus Vidor, debuted in 2023 with “Follow the Cold Path”, a record defined by its frostbitten ambience and introspective melodic threads. It introduced Autrest as a project rooted deeply in nature-driven emotion, drawing on the traditions of atmospheric, post-black, and melodic black metal while maintaining a personal, solitary identity. With the release of “Burning Embers, Forgotten Wolves”, Autrest broadens that foundation, pushing the project toward a richer, more expansive sound while preserving the raw, windswept aesthetic that shaped its early work.

Burning Embers, Forgotten Wolves

The album marks a noticeable leap forward in both compositional ambition and emotional range. Where the debut embraced cold minimalism, “Burning Embers, Forgotten Wolves” introduces a warmer tonal palette, trading icy isolation for something more luminous and reflective. The central imagery of “embers” and “forgotten wolves” feels carefully chosen. The music often pivots between quiet inward glow and fierce, instinctual energy. Autrest uses this duality as a thematic backbone, crafting songs that move fluidly between aggression, melancholy, and meditative calm.

Track Listing: 1. Lobos (Offering) 2. Ashes from the Burning Embers 3. Forgotten Wolves 4. Where Stones Whisper 5. Ruins of the Lost 6. Forsaken 7. Resonance 8. Chasm of Time

Musically, the record expands the project’s signature blend of atmospheric and melodic black metal. The guitars carry an emotional narrative, weaving long, expressive tremolo lines that rise and fall like wind over mountain slopes. Layered harmonies add depth without overcrowding the mix, allowing melodies to breathe while creating a sense of vast, open landscapes. The production has tightened significantly since the debut. It's cleaner without sacrificing the hazy, immersive atmosphere so central to the genre. The songwriting is more dynamic this time around. Tracks unfold in deliberate arcs, building tension through repeated motifs before resolving into sweeping melodic passages or ambient interludes. Drums, too, play a more integral role, shifting between driving blast beats and understated rhythmic textures that support mood rather than dominate it. Vocals remain raw and distant, functioning less as a focal point and more as another layer of emotional texture. What stands out most is Autrest’s dedication to emotional storytelling. Even at its most intense, the album maintains a reflective undercurrent, exploring themes of memory, solitude, and the enduring presence of the natural world. The contrast between embers and wolves, between fragile warmth and primal instinct, recurs throughout the album’s structure, giving the record a sense of narrative cohesion. It’s an album that rewards immersive listening, with melodies that linger long after the final track fades.

Conclusion:

“Burning Embers, Forgotten Wolves” is a confident and mature step forward for Autrest. It strengthens everything the debut did well while widening the emotional and sonic scope of the project. The album strikes a compelling balance between ferocity and introspection, offering both powerful riffs and atmospheric depth without leaning too heavily on either. For fans of nature-inspired black metal, especially those drawn to the melodic currents of bands like Saor or Elderwind, Autrest delivers a work that feels both personal and expansive. This is the sound of a project finding its stride and pushing boldly into its next chapter.

BMZ rating: 8 out of 10

Your thoughts on Burning Embers, Forgotten Wolves by Autrest

We love to hear your opinion about this album. You can do so by becoming a member and comment on this post.

Or share your opinion and thoughts on our social media channels, or join the discussion on our Discord—where we talk about all things black metal. Don’t forget to follow our Facebook page, Black Metal Zine, for updates on our latest articles, and have a look at our Instagram @blackmetal.zine for concert photos and more!