Black Metal

One of the most notorious names in the still-thriving Finnish black metal scene, GOATMOON has been an uber-prolific force of iron will since the band’s creation in 2002, all guided by the monomaniacal hand of BlackGoat Gravedesecrator. The band’s earliest efforts were extremely raw and punk-oriented, but it was with 2007’s Finnish Steel Stormwhere GOATMOON truly came into its own, exhibiting a sense of refinement rarely heard in such hateful-yet-epic black metal whilst retaining its core identity, and a title by which BlackGoat Gravedesecrator has fulfilled on all successive recordings. Of them, the subsequent third and fourth albums – 2011’s Varjotand 2014’s Voitto tai Valhalla, respectively – saw GOATMOON continue that refinement with equally compelling results, and in the process garner a more fanatic fanbase…and further infamy.

Black Metal

In 2017, GOATMOON truly etched its name its Finnish black metal legendry with Stella Polaris, a monument of cosmic, snow-capped majesty. The entirely dungeon synth Silver Serpent followed in 2021, but now arrives GOATMOON’s full-length return to black metal with What Once Was… Shall Be Again. As presaged by its title, there’s an undeniably yearning and nostalgic aspect to the band’s characteristically epic ruminations, occasionally/often dusted by folkloric synths. But if one were to assume that What Once Was… Shall Be Again would further continue that refinement – and indeed, in large part, it does – the album equally takes GOATMOON back to their earliest, rawest roots, here temped by the steely-eyed austerity of older age and wisdom. It’s a skillful balance pulled off with aplomb, proving that the band honor their history but rarely repeat themselves. And more than anything, it provides another dazzling new canvas on which warriors and dreamers can explore…but no safe spaces here, of course. No other words necessary: What Once Was… Shall Be Again!

Black Metal

Originally released in 2007, Finnish Steel Storm is the album where GOATMOON truly came into its own and solidified a unique sound now revered far and wide. Here, monomaniacal mainman BlackGoat Gravedesecrator sharpened his previously punkish attack into gleaming black metal – ever distinctly Finnish, but now with a refinement that truly exuded the triumph ‘n’ tragedy at the heart of his aesthetic. And while he’d continue that refinement over subsequent albums, it was in this crucial year and on this crucial album where GOATMOON became one of Finland’s most lethal (and most infamous) black metal bands. Banned in Germany, experience Finnish Steel Storm again, now with improved layout and on gold disc – forever may that storm roil and rage…

Black Metal

Classic full-length available again on LP.