[REVIEW] WRITTEN IN TORMENT - Black Command [2022] Purity Through Fire

Harrogate’s Written In Torment has been active since 2003 and the sole member, Mike ‘Leviathan’ Hardisty, is responsible for all instruments and vocals. ‘Black Command’ is the fourth full-length from him, following 2019’s ‘Maledictus Dies Illa’, and came out on 4th July 2022 through Purity Through Fire.

‘Black Command’ deals with the little-known story of Jonathan Martin who, in early February 1829, burned down York Minster. Martin suffered with mental issues and was plagued by lurid religious dreams and visions, in the end setting fire to the minster. He was quickly caught and, on grounds of lunacy, he spent the rest of his days in Bedlam lunatic asylum, rather than being hanged. The cover art depicts the church burning as a figure, presumably Martin, watches on.

First up is ‘Anger Road’, mid-paced, symphonic and atmospheric, and the second track, ‘Contra Passo’, starts off a little faster but then settles into the same mid-paced vein as the first track. There’s a mix of differing tempos and speeds on the album and some clean singing on fourth track ‘Mors Ultima’ while ‘Black Command’ opens with slow guitars and some monastic-like chanting/singing from Leviathan. The final song, 'Dies Irae', is a fast track to end the album on, albeit still with the slow passages, clean vocals among the harsh singing and some piano to end on. The ecclesiastical feel running through the whole album is perfect for the subject in hand.

I will have to give it a few more spins to get really into it. It certainly merits more than a handful of listens. Production-wise, the instruments are all well-balanced and clear without one overwhelming another. The vocals are harsh and suitably anguished, without being overdone, and perfectly suit the music which is heavy and atmospheric and fits the sombre nature of the subject matter.

Fans of symphonic metal in the vein of Emperor will find a lot to like here and it deserves to be in people’s CD players, turntables and streaming services.

Favourite song: The Allure of the Dark.
Review by Fay Johnson

Track listing: 1. Anger Road 05:56 2. Contra Passo 04:23 3. The Allure of the Dark 08:15 4. Mors Ultima 08:05 5. Black Command 08:19 6. Dies Irae 05:47 Total: 40:45

For fans of Emperor, Dissection, Winter of Sin (NL) and Abyssos (SWE)

To listen to 'Black Command' click HERE!