Album Review – Gorrch / Stillamentum (2026)

This two-headed Black Metal beast arises from its lair in Italy with a new full-length opus, pushing further into darkness with an unwavering commitment to raw emotion and existential dread, crafting a labyrinth of shadows and pain.

Formed in 2010 in Northeastern Italy as a duo composed of brothers Chimsicrin (on vocals, drums and keyboards) and Droich (on the guitars and bass), the uncanny Black Metal beast known as Gorrch has been carving their niche in the Italian underground with a singular, uncompromising vision of Black Metal, from the feral intensity of their 2013 self-titled EP and the 2015 full-length Nera Estasi, to the more experimental, dissonant, and atmospheric textures of their 2020 EP Introvertere. Now in 2026 such a ruthless two-headed creature returns in full force with Stillamentum, a full-length album steeped in claustrophobic intensity, dissonant chord structures, and relentless sonic tension. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Andrea Petucco and Gorrch, the album sees the duo push further into darkness with an unwavering commitment to raw emotion and existential dread, crafting a labyrinth of shadows and pain.

Nimbus brings forward absolute chaos and darkness from the very first second, with Chimsicrin sounding inhumane on drums while his devilish vociferations will send shivers down your spine. Droich continues to exhale sheer adrenaline and violence from his riffs and bass in Vorago, just as demented and detailed as its predecessor, always in the name of Italian Black Metal; and the duo shows no mercy for our impious souls in Larvæ, crushing us all like insects with their fusion of Experimental, Dissonant and Avantgarde Black Metal. There’s no time to breathe as their sulfurous sounds continue to permeate the air in Cryptæ, with the acrid stench flowing from Droich’s riffage living up to the legacy of the genre; whereas Angor is even more dissonant and visceral, spearheaded by the ruthless Black Metal blast beats by Chimsicrin. Needless to say, the duo is on total fire until the very last note of the song. Finally, they end such a demonic album just like how it started with Phlegma, oozing a vile blend of Black Metal that will melt your face to the scorching riffs by Droich until all that insanity fades into nothingness.

Always carrying an aura of mystery, which have helped them build a cult following among the followers of extreme, chaotic Black Metal, Gorrch channels their own obsession with sound as ritual and catharsis in Stillamentum, something that can be easily noticed from its punishing tremolo riffs and blasting drumming to its cavernous production that evokes suffocating atmospheres. Gorrch are another band that decided to stay away from all types of social media, but of course you can still find their music online available on Spotify, and purchase Stillamentum from their own BandCamp, from Avantgarde Music’s BandCamp, or from Sound Cave as a CD or an LP. Stillamentum is not an album for the lighthearted, nor for the average listener. This is the union of Black Metal and absolute chaos, and you’ll soon find yourself immersed in the turbulent and dark waters ruled by Chimsicrin and Droich in their excruciating new opus.

Best moments of the album: Nimbus and Phlegma.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Avantgarde Music

Track listing
1. Nimbus 6:24
2. Vorago 6:33
3. Larvæ 5:30
4. Cryptæ 6:13
5. Angor 5:03
6. Phlegma 7:35

Band members
Chimsicrin – vocals, drums, keyboards
Droich – guitars, bass

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