Review: Nyrak - Phoenix Mortis (2025)

Band: Nyrak
Album: Phoenix Mortis
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Country: Belgium
Label: Void Wanderer Productions
Released: October 30, 2025

Introduction

Rising from Belgium’s ever-fertile extreme metal underground, Nyrak have quickly distinguished themselves as a band unwilling to be confined by orthodox black metal traditions. Formed in 2021 by multi-instrumentalist and orchestrator Guy “Nevel” Van Nieuwenhove, also known for his work with Gotmoor, Nyrak began as a studio project focused on blending black metal with cinematic orchestration and progressive ambition. What started as a one-man vision soon expanded into a full band, now featuring Lukas Risbourg on vocals, and Bram Veldeman on drums. Following their debut full-length Malvs (2022) and the expansive sophomore album Devourer of All (2024), Nyrak cemented their identity as a forward-thinking force within atmospheric black metal. Their third full-length release, Phoenix Mortis (2025), marks their most fully realized statement to date.

Track Listing:
1. Leviathan
2. Promethean Fire
3. Floods of Gilgamesh
4. Die Verwandlung
5. In the Halls of the Aesir
6. Phoenix Mortis I: In This Void
7. Phoenix Mortis II: Requiem
8. Phoenix Mortis III: Ashes to Flesh

The Album

Phoenix Mortis is not merely an album but a carefully constructed journey through destruction, rebirth, and mythic transcendence. Building on the orchestral foundations of their previous work, Nyrak push further into progressive territory, crafting long-form compositions that breathe and evolve rather than rush toward catharsis. The production is vast without being sterile, guitars retain a biting black metal edge while symphonic layers swell beneath the surface, enhancing the emotional gravity rather than overwhelming it. From its opening moments, Phoenix Mortis establishes a cinematic tone, balancing ferocity with restraint. Blast-driven passages erupt suddenly, only to recede into somber, melodic interludes that feel vast and mournful. The band’s sense of dynamics is one of the album’s strongest assets; tension is allowed to build slowly, rewarding patient listeners with moments of crushing intensity. Vocals are delivered with conviction, shifting between venomous rasp and commanding, almost narratorial presence, reinforcing the album’s conceptual weight. Lyrically and thematically, Phoenix Mortis explores cycles of death and rebirth, drawing from mythological and psychological imagery rather than relying on genre clichés. This conceptual depth is mirrored in the songwriting itself, tracks unfold in movements, with recurring motifs reappearing in altered forms, reinforcing the album’s central themes. The drumming is precise yet expressive, anchoring the album’s more ambitious passages, while the bass and orchestration provide a sense of grandeur that elevates the material beyond standard black metal frameworks.

Conclusion

With Phoenix Mortis, Nyrak has delivered a bold and confident work that solidifies their place among the more progressive and ambitious acts in contemporary black metal. This is an album that demands immersion best experienced in full rather than through isolated tracks. While its scope and pacing may challenge listeners seeking immediacy, those willing to surrender to its atmosphere will find a richly layered and emotionally resonant release. Phoenix Mortis stands as a testament to Nyrak’s artistic growth, proving that black metal remains a fertile ground for evolution, introspection, and rebirth.

BMZ Rating: 8 out of 10

Support Nyrak here:

Phoenix Mortis, by Nyrak

8 track album

NyrakObsidian One

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