Review: Føsphene – Føsphene

Review by Jeger

Føsphene – Føsphene

Record Label: Independent

Year: 2025

Rating: 10/10

To find light within the lightless… Careening into the ever-sure spiral of the Mortal Coil as it twists its way downward into a most inglorious end are we all. To understand this truth is to face the reality that Eden is a fool’s paradise; one built upon the bedrock of broken promises. It’s only in the end, the true and absolute end, where one can make a purposeful beginning; a beginning constructed upon lessons learned and upon the jaded memories of yesteryear. To see this dawning is to know the burdensome mortal ache. To begin anew is to know the true meaning of grief. Is it even worth it? Such is the existential plight – the place where Nihilism is born…

Føsphene

Corvallis, Oregon, USA’s Føsphene is a brand new entity in the USBM landscape. Having formed just last year, their modus operandi is, for the most part a mystery, but the evidence of their presence is profound. In February of this year, Føsphene released their debut self-titled record independently. And forget about the conventionality of the sub-genre as you know it: the forests, the magick and the storytelling, for this is music that stands beholden not to such typicality, but to the dread of existence. With every dismal note and with each loathsome beat, there is a tale of desperation to be told. Think Mgła, only with an even more overbearing atmosphere, and judging by “Føsphene’s” lyrical content, the sentiment is the same – misanthropy. The opening titular track: “Føsphene” by Føsphene is the musical embodiment of where the illusion of light within the darkness of despair draws you nigh like a mirage of hope, and with suitable riffs, melodies and rhythms that evoke miserable imagery of one who suffers in solitude over the realization of a life wasted. A place we’ve all found ourselves at one point or another. Shades of Advent Sorrow’s “Kali Yuga Crown” surface from within the depths of the cut followed by the equally despairing “Eden”. Mammoth floor-tom and bass drum strikes like war drums carry over into a magnificent bounty of melodious riffing patterns and exact shifts in tempo; putting on display this band’s erstwhile capabilities.

Where did these guys come from? Where have they been? Toiling away with other projects, obviously, as this kind of music, this sort of profound vision for Atmospheric Black Metal could only be realized by those of a veteran’s status. It’s enough to give you shivers. Chills like the frigid realization of the perils ahead upon the road to perdition. A destiny of maledictive outcomes to culminate a lifetime of struggle. And this six-track, 38:00 soundtrack couldn’t be more appropriate. The savory mid-tempo’d “Horizontal Ambient Cry” – a riffed out and rhythmic specimen of a Black Metal track gives way to the haunting instrumental, “Apostasy”. Acid rain pouring over it all; stripping away all surface-level beauty; exposing the tarnish, the truth. Just a misery-drenched few minutes. Brilliant in its simplicity.

What a remarkable experience! What a gorgeous surprise. With this opus, Føsphene dredges the depths of the human spirit in exposition of what we all know deep down – the futility of existence. A tour de force achievement and quite possibly the finest debut I’ve laid ears to. For a duo to bring the goods like this on their very first record is beyond rare, beyond the scope of normality. Everything from the cover art down to the album’s stunning production quality just oozes a level of class that is unparalleled by even the greats. This is why we listen to Black Metal. This is why we choose to endure. Bravo!