If you’ve read the following review Report: Void Wanderer Productions and War Productions – Metal-Exposure you already know that I sometimes get a physical copy of this quality label.
Once again, I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Nyrak‘s upcoming album called “Phoenix Mortis”. So it’s time to get rid of the dust of my good old laptop and write another review.
Don’t worry: I am more than happy to provide “Phoenix Mortis” with a review. Simply because I really enjoyed it. Nyrak is an (atmospheric) Black Metal from our neighbor country Belgium.

Insurrected in 2022 this young band already managed to release two full length albums as well as an EP. The music itself is atmospheric yet manages to be brutal and grim at the same time.
The excellent drum patterns of Bram Veldeman sound like a battery at times and aided with excellent bas riffs from Nevel (who also provides orchestration and programming). Together with Lukas Risbourg and Sven van Laerethey make sure that the guitars are melodic, epic, brutal and grim.

What I really like about the album is that the above is combined with a subtle layer of keyboards.
It gives the, already very good, songs a bit of extra atmosphere. The eight songs are crafted, or better said composed, in good fashion and show that the musicians know how to make some music.

Now, for the album itself.
The first track and also single “Leviathan” starts with an eerie dark ambient intro and suddenly bursts loose on all hooves. And when it does it takes no prisoners: the drums pummel a way into your eardrum, the melodic yet relentless guitar parts are excellent and the vocals of Lukas, albeit not extraordinary, manage to impress me with this great composition. Good choice to start with this song. Follow up “Promethean Fire”, being less aggressive, manages to enthrall me with superb atmosphere. Nyrak really manages to enthrall me with this song.

“Floods of Gilgamesh” contains some great melodic guitar parts while “Die Verwandlung” grabs you by the jugular and doesn’t let get go until “In the Halls of Aesir” provides a breather with its ambient beginning. Yet, when you start to think this is merely an interlude you are wrong. This song erupts after some time making sure you are on the edge of your seat. A killer song providing a well dosed shot of adrenaline.
The same can be said of “Phoenix Mortis I: Into the void” which starts as a piano piece and suddenly erupts in an aggressive, emotional, epic and atmospheric Black Metal track.

It is part of a trilogy were “Phoenix Mortis II: Requiem” is straight forward and “Phoenix Mortis III: Ashes to Flesh” gradually builds up momentum providing a fitting end to an already accomplished album.

This album contains more than plenty chills and thrills to get your Black Metal booty going.
The combination of songs, the excellent production, the great compositions itself managed to woe me with a terrorizing beauty. I really didn’t expect this. I can’t say I haven’t heard this before yet Nyrak manages to stand on its own with more then enough quality over quantity. But, as mentioned many times before, who gives a shit whether something is original or not. When it’s executed in this manner it’s all good. If you are a fan of Helvitnir, Nagelfar and Belgium brothers Enthroned, you can buy this album instantly. If not, listen to it anyway. You won’t be disappointed. Good stuff!

Score: 8,0 /10

Release date: 30 October 2025
Label: Void Wanderer Productions

Reviewer: Erik

Tracklist:

1. Leviathan
2. Promethean Fire
3. Floods of Gilgamesh
4. Die Verwandlung
5. In the Halls of Aesir
6. Phoenix Mortis 1: Into the void
7. Phoenix Mortis II: Requiem
8. Phoenix Mortis III: Ashes to Flesh