review

Review: Via ad Mortem (2026)

Via ad Mortem's Requiem I: Through the Path, over the Ruins (8.5/10) Brand new Italian Black Metal band Via ad Mortem has delivered a record that feels genuinely alive, grounded in the roots of traditional black metal. Read more!

Via ad Mortem - Requiem I: Through the Path, over the Ruins

Band: Via ad Mortem

Album: Requiem I: Through the Path, over the Ruins

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Italy

Label: Northern Darkness Records

Released: May 15, 2026

Introduction

The underground has a new name to reckon with. Coming out of Italy, Via ad Mortem (Latin for “The way to death”) is a fresh new black metal project that also marks the explosive return of the resurrected Northern Darkness Records. The lineup features the combined forces of Hiems Silens (Guitars and Bass), alongside the dual vocal assault of Gibil (Drums) and Santamuertero Sinister (Keyboards). Instead of playing catch-up with safe, modern extreme metal trends, this trio looks backwards towards the second wave especially and inwards towards the roots of what black metal was meant to stand for.

Requiem I: Through the Path, over the Ruins

Track Listing:

The First Steps Towards the Unkown
Through the Path...
Worshipper of Death
Muchita - Night in Lima
Into the Bardo
Voragine di Luce
...Over the Ruins
Rib for a Rib
The Grace of Gnosis

Their debut full-length, Requiem I: Through the Path, over the Ruins, is a massive, 9-track journey that pulls off a difficult balancing act. Musically, it bridges the gap between the chaotic, primordial fury of classic Italian act Spite Extreme Wing and the sweeping, atmospheric melancholy of Drudkh.

The record kicks off with the eerie drone of "The First Steps Towards the Unknown" before launching into a storm of relentless tremolo lines and sharp blasting. What makes the album work so well is its pacing. It doesn’t just hammer you into submission; it knows when to breathe. "Worshipper of Death" acts as a great showcase for their blistering, traditional style, while tracks like "Muchita, Night in Lima" inject a distinct, ritualistic atmosphere into the mix.

The production leaves plenty of room for cavernous vocals and dense basslines to cut through, especially on the title movements and mid-album standouts like "Into the Bardo" and "Voragine di Luce." Lyrically, the album focuses on necromancy, esoteric traditions, and a total rejection of modern materialism, matching the bleakness of the music perfectly

Conclusion

Requiem I: Through the Path, over the Ruins is an incredibly strong debut. Via ad Mortem has delivered a record that feels genuinely alive, grounded in the roots of traditional black metal but elevated by its deep philosophical weight. It avoids trendy gimmicks and stands tall as a dark, uncompromising piece of art.

BMZ Rating: 8.5/10

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