Album Review: Ofnus – Valediction (Naturmacht Productions)

After the universal critical acclaim garnered by their debut album, ‘Time Held Me Grey and Dying’, Wales’ Ofnus, the imaginative and creative practitioners of black metal’s dark arts, have returned. Their new album, ‘Valediction’ will be released on February 28th, 2025, via Naturmacht Productions. An album that charts the journey through grief – from initial trauma to final acceptance or endless sorrow.

Beautiful misery. Two words that don’t belong together, but two words that summarise this new Ofnus album, and the band itself. Wrapped within a black shroud, it might seem as though an album like this offers little more than extreme heaviness and wicked intensity, but it has deep and dark depths that create a more emotional experience. The more time spent in the company of Ofnus, the more music like this connects.

The light within this darkness burns brightly from the start as The Shattering arrives with an extreme outlook. Ofnus have learned a lot about intensity since the release of their debut album, and this track showcases that, alongside vivid melody, and so much more. Perhaps the most surprising thing is the guitar sound, where we even get soloing. This is an opening track with some flair, especially as it goes on and Ofnus showcase even more atmosphere. In fact, the journey this track takes you on is wholly unforgettable, and by the end it has turned into something impossibly grand.

Such a high would imply that the only way is down from here, but that’s not the Ofnus way. They’re far too talented and Reflections of Delusion brings forth a sombre sound that is dank and dark, but with filled with melodic power. Words like extravagant come to mind, especially as Ofnus’ approach is measured.

Fear not though, their black side is always front and centre, and it is sounding particularly ugly within Throes of Agony, a brutish listen. Not just because it is on the extreme end of Ofnus’ sound, but because it comes with even more fire and fury than listeners may expect. The latter part of the track is immensely wicked sounding.

Bigger and bolder, Ofnus’ creativity burns brightly as the album moves into its latter half. First, bringing forth a tome called Proteus. Where, for over eleven minutes, the band push the limits of misery, delivering experimental melodies that create a deeper, haunting vibe, combine that with textured metal, and deliver dynamic blackness. It’s the encapsulation of this album’s brilliance, in one epic track.

With even more power on show, so devilishly heavy, and featuring new levels of ambience (very cool Middle Eastern flavours here), Zenith Dolour is another special listen. One with despair infused into it in such a way, it becomes all encompassing. This is music that stays with you long afterwards and the reason why, as the album reaches its penultimate point with the title track, it’s still as listenable as it was at the start. Again, it’s a dazzling display of guitars, especially as it loses its intensity in places as it becomes more melodic.

Finally, its Alazia and one last display of Ofnus’ progression. Wrapping up their immense new record with the kind of dynamic thinking that makes them such an important band within the UK metal scene. Garish and grandiose, the bleakness of it all oozes out, but this isn’t a surprise at this stage, and it’s certainly not off-putting. Rather, it is welcomed, as all of Valediction’s beautiful misery is.

Ofnus – Valediction Track Listing:

1. The Shattering
2. Reflections of Delusion
3. Throes of Agony
4. Proteus
5. Zenith Dolour
6. Valediction
7. Alazia

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