Review: Torver - Witching Hour (2026)

Band: Torver
Album: Witching Hour
Genre: Symphonic Black Metal
Country: England, UK
Label: Wulfhere Productions
Released: 1st May 2026

Introduction

The new album from Torver has been on my mind for a couple of months now since it's release in May, and I realised I really ought to get my disorganised mind into some coherent words. 

Formed in 2013, Torver are a black metal act from Cumbria, northern England who released various demos and splits through the 2010’s totaling seven songs across them. After six years of silence, they have graced us with their debut full-length album.

Completely gone is the raw black metal approach of their early work, and in comes some black metal with quality production and melodic elements, building on what they had with their track Naked in the Wilderness.

Vocalist and violin player Nicholas Millar contributes a lot to those melodic moments, weaving intricate violin lines and powerful clean vocals to accompany the harsh music. If you've ever listened to the now disbanded project Aklash of which he was doing the same with you'll get an idea of what to expect here. (Side note: listen to their 2024 album Reincarnation, one of my favourite releases of that year).

Witching Hour

The thunder roars, the violin gently constructs a symphony accompanied with horns, strings, and choir vocals. Then after over half a decade in the shadows the first song bursts through the silence. Erupting into bombastic blast beats accompanied by the sweeps of a violin, it builds up the astounding assembly that is this album.

Nocturnal Serenade, our first track after the intro is downright melodic to a tee, and utterly seeped in emotion beyond the clattering drum fills and heavily distorted guitars. Ending in clean chorus vocals evolving into wolven howls (that set my cats on edge every time it happens).

Many different vocal styles are approached on this album, spoken word, powerful clean singing, and traditional harsh black metal growls to perfectly fit the mood each time. The basslines throughout are noticeable clear and well structured, such as on Reformation of the Trinity. 

There’s a decent amount of environmental storytelling with the likes of thunder and the bells tolling, it all adds so much character to this album. Clean guitar picking peacefully cutting through the harsh riffs such as on Apotheosis, a shining standout of the album that is gorgeous.

Gardens of Ithaca provides a point of respite amongst the foreboding and storm-battered landscapes that this album conjures up in your mind before it is stripped away rapidly by Where Angels Fear to Tread and Walk Alone. 

The fantastic eight minute composition A Shield of Polished Silver incorporates all the elements that came before it, and is such a great closer. Synth keys, simple striking notes, and the violin rounds off this album, it doesn’t feel like fifty minutes have passed and yet it reaches its conclusion almost effortlessly.

Conclusion

This album astounded me when I first listened to it on release day, in fact, the first single impressed me so much that I blind bought the vinyl purely based on that one track. 

If you’re a fan of the nineties black metal scene with some symphonic and melodic flair to it, then this is the new album you need to go and check out. With no weak filler tracks, it is thoroughly enjoyable front to back that leaves you appropriately spellbound.

I really hope that this project stays revived and continues to craft such wonderful tracks of classical harmonies and bleak frosty black metal intertwined. 

BMZ Rating: 9/10

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