Review: Sumerian Tombs – Age Of Eternal Night

Sumerian Tombs weave epic vampyric Black Metal with mythological lore and turn “Age Of Eternal Night” into a tomb filled with darkness and dread. The concept is steeped in Mesopotamian myth: forbidden wisdom, ancient blood gods, ritual-ascended immortal rulers, vampyric spirits. These themes are neither superficial nor casually invoked, they are woven into the lyricism, the vocal performances, guest appearances, and even the visuals. The band draws convincingly on second‐wave Black Metal while adding Eastern melodic inflections that lend the material both flavor and weight.

Musically the album is varied and ambitious. There are songs that march with ritual anger and others that brood in sombre reflection. “Cuutha – Necropolis” stands out with its crushing mid-tempo weight, where guitars roar and leads shimmer with exotic lilt, drums hammering with purpose. “The Seal – Blood Meditation” leans into atmosphere, cleans voices, ritual murmurings, letting the listener sink into darkness.

Production is strong. The mix is powerful but balanced: brutality doesn’t overtake melody; ambience doesn’t smother intensity. There is clarity even in the dirge-like passages, and the vocals, while harsh where required, often ride the edge of clarity to add texture. The soundscape feels alive: reverbs, echo, shadows all contribute to a sense of being in crumbling tombs, hearing whispers behind stone.

However, the album occasionally overreaches. Some tracks are a bit too extensive, and long moments of atmosphere begin to blur one into another without enough contrast. There are moments in mid-album where momentum stalls, where listener’s attention is called out of the myth because of repetitive riffing or too much ambient drift without sufficient turning.

Still, the highs are high. When the band leans into narrative, aggression, melody and myth in equal measure, the emotional intensity is rewarding. The track list holds strong peaks, especially in tracks with guest vocals, that break through the gloom with visceral force. And the concept succeeds: it doesn’t feel gimmicky, it feels like a ritual tale, a descent into myth and blood, darkness and longing.