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Review: Veytik – Carmina Aerea in Aetate Ferrea

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Review by Jeger

Veytik – Carmina Aerea in Aetate Ferrea

Record Label: Independent

Year: 2025

Rating: 7/10


Sienna bronze signifies an age of iron will. The Bronze Age saw life in the Mediterranean in a state of advanced societal development before the Late Bronze Age Collapse around 1200 BC. But if you dig a bit deeper into the history of this aeon, you’ll discover great stories: some based on lore, others on heroic legend and others still on curses. Great material for a black metal record! After all, what would the genre be without history and storytelling?

Olympia, Washington, USA’s Veytik – a mysterious entity on the USBM scene have taken it upon themselves to relay some of these legends to us through the great craft of Black Metal. On March 20, 2025, Veytik will release their highly anticipated debut LP, “Carmina Aerea in Aetate Ferrea”, independently.

Judging by the cover art alone, one would assume very little about this album. Fairly cut & dry Black Metal without a bunch of bells and whistles, but instead, we get this monstrosity of Immortal-worshipping, “Hatebreeder” era Bodom-heralding Black Metal recording. There’s something Finnish going on around here, as I’m not only reminded of the Bodom as mentioned earlier but also Suomi newcomers, Bloodcross, who bring it with similar sentiments of intensity. But make no mistake about it, “Carmina Aerea in Aetate Ferrea” is Black Metal through and through. True USBM? Does that even exist within a scene that owes its entire existence to emulation? I’d say that this album is too experimental to fall under that sort of category. Taken back to Blashyrkh during the fantasy-reveling acoustic intro to “Orantes Stained Red” before the guitars begin to rain their shred and the godlike rhythms start towering over you. Like a dumb NYC tourist trying not to fall backward as he looks up at a skyscraper now… In the following track, “The Chords of Cowardice” – drummer Avis Lapis displays Dominator-level adeptness behind the kit – Watain-like aggression and grime along with similar soloing styles to the Swedes to be taken in here.

 

Veytik

 

Musically, I’d say that “Carmina Aerea in Aetate Ferrea” is a bit mismatched with the album’s concept. I’ve scarcely felt any sort of mythical vibes, nor does the atmosphere of the music feel very mystifying. Veytik captures no essence of anything at all other than some obvious stylistic comparisons to other bands. Production-wise, expect a shallow, paper-like sort of one-dimensional sound. A little more depth and texture next time around would serve dynamic black metal like this more suitably.

Bronze Age myth and legend? I’ll take your word for it. What we have with Veytik and “Carmina Aerea in Aetate Ferrea” is an immensely talented group with project vision complications that need to be worked out. This is a fine Black Metal album, just not a form-fitting one. With the aforementioned Immortal, even though they are a mainstream black metal band whom true Black Metal fans do not take seriously, their music, concepts and visuals fit like a glove. A complete experience that leaves you satisfied at the end like a nice dinner, a few beers and a lay with the ole ball & chain. Whereas here we’re left scratching our heads a little.

With “Carmina Aerea in Aetate Ferrea”, the music is revved into the red at times, uber-melodic, high velocity and blackened to perfection, but the concept is awkwardly supported. Another USBM band, another questionable album. Worth your time? Certainly, just don’t expect this girl to know how to push all your buttons like your regular lady.

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