Review: Arckanum – Motestandarin (EP)

Review by Jeger

Arckanum – Motestandarin (EP)

Record Label: Darkness Shall Rise Productions

Year: 2026

Rating: 8/10

It goes without saying that the Swedes are the ones who put real Occult-driven Black Metal on the map: Ofermod, Arckanum, Dissection, Watain. And it also goes without saying that to this day, the Sverige scene consists of bands that have not strayed from the scene’s established creative avenue. In turn, this particular Movement has developed into one of the most legit/respected Schools of BM. The Swedish Black Metal institution known as Arckanum has made its return… The Chaos-Gnostic Sage of the most sacred science of Occultism, in honor of an awakening from what was an eight-year-long slumber, on June 22 released an EP, “Motestandarin”, via the nefarious Darkness Shall Rise Productions.

Arckanum

Arckanum went on hiatus in 2018 so project visionary, Shamaatae, could focus more on his other artistic endeavors but also as a means for deeper spiritual development through his dedicated Occult practices. Idle spiritual hands lead to stagnation, which in turn leads to spiritual bankruptcy. For some Artists, the art of Black Metal is beholden to His/Her own spiritual conditioning. And it just so happens that Shamaatae is one of these individuals. Now, stronger than ever and in offering Arckanum’s first all-new music release since 2017’s “Den förstfödde” is Shamaatae and without further introduction, we’re off into the throes of track one, “Skaepna Aer Krigh”: a Daemonic soliloquy to welcome you into a warm current of loose melodic riffs powered by complex yet powerful bass lines and beats. Eventually, complexity gives way toward a more fluid range of motion as the melodies begin to reciprocate and the rhythms begin to gallop; resulting in an experience that will no doubt appease both Novice and Connoisseur tiers of Black Metal enthusiasm. Getting a reminder of just how great Arckanum has always been – one of the all time great Swedish Black Metal projects, one of the 100% legit Occult-driven forces behind the Swedish scene.

Dialing up the intensity with the second and final cut on the EP, “Anskoti”. A textbook Arckanum melodic scourge carries over into a tirade of guttural grunt-like spoken-word vocals. Something like being in trance and receiving through some kind of diabolical radio wave, instructions on how to bring forth the end of days. But at its core, “Anskoti” is a grimy affair: greasy and unfiltered, volatile to the senses yet impossible to turn away. A nice return to the craft and a worthy-of-accolades EP is “Motestandarin”. A little something to whet the appetite.

Esoteric enlightenment through the practice of Ritual Occultism translated into Black Metal of the world-class variety is what you can expect. Just par for the Arckanum course. One legendary outfit, one grand return. Much fanfare is in order! “Motestandarin” is here…