A crow is calling to the sound of the new offering by Colombia’s own Melodic Black and Death Metal entity, a conceptual journey through mysticism, transformation and inner transmutation.
Combining Gothenburg-influenced Death Metal, Black Metal and classical composition with an interest in poetry, mysticism, existence and cosmogony, Pereira, Colombia-based Melodic Black/Death Metal outfit Eshtadur is back with their fifth studio album, titled In Darkness All Shadows Gone, following on their critically acclaimed 2017 album Mother Gray and their 2020 opus From the Abyss. Recorded at RockStar Studios, produced by the band’s mastermind Jorg August, who also wrote the music, lyrics, compositions, and orchestral arrangements, mixed and mastered by Tomasz “Zed” Zalewski, and displaying a Stygian artwork by Vallesia Obscura, the new offering by Jorg August on vocals and guitars, Camilo Barbosa also on the guitars, Andres Gonzalez on bass, and David Lopez on drums follows a conceptual journey through mysticism, transformation and inner transmutation.
The phantasmagorical intro Age of Antumbra will darken the skies and drag us into a deep dark forest to the sound of Into The Woods, kicking off in full force to the ruthless growling by Jorg while Camilo, Andres and David hammer their instruments nonstop. Umbra offers six minutes of first-class Melodic Death Metal where the guitars by Jorg and Camilo transpire obscurity; and David keeps pounding his drums in the name of dark and heavy Melodic Death Metal in August’s Burdens, where all backing vocals boost Jorg’s already killer guttural. Fire Above Mountain Below is one of the most experimental and symphonic of all songs, where the quartet fires a massive wall of sounds that fills every single space in the air majestically, followed by Old Shaman Blind, which starts in a cryptic manner before evolving into a Death and Doom Metal creature, once again led by David’s crushing beats and fills.
Thunderground offers a blend of Scandinavian Melodic Death Metal with the band’s own South American twist, with the riffs and solos by Jorg and Camilo feeling fantastic, and they keep shredding their axes in Ruler of the Lake, sounding heavy and venomous from start to finish. Then a beyond atmospheric start gradually morphs into a bestial display of Death and Doom Metal titled A Black Winged Waltz, again presenting the striking guitar solos by Camilo; and there’s still fuel for another hard hitting tune titled Nebulae (Virgo), led by the classic beats and fills by David. Omen of Millennia lives up to the legacy of traditional Melodic Death Metal, with Jorg sounding infuriated again on vocals for our absolute delight, flowing into Soy Real, a climatic conclusion to the album where Jorg’s deep growls are spiced up by clean vocals in the background amidst a beautiful sonic devastation.
“We worked on this material for four years. It is a long album with twelve tracks, symphonic arrangements, a real orchestra, many vocal layers and Tuvan voices. At times, it felt like a giant puzzle, but everything finally came together. We are proud of the result and grateful to everyone who helped us build it. A crow is calling,” commented Jorg August, who’s waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with news, tour dates and so on, and you can also stream their music on Spotify and put your hands on In Darkness All Shadows Gone via BandCamp or Rockshots Records, or by clicking HERE. Fans of Septicflesh, Dissection and At The Gates will surely have a great time listening to the new album by Eshtadur. Or, in other words, can you hear the crow calling?
Best moments of the album: Into The Woods, Fire Above Mountain Below and Omen of Millennia.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2026 Rockshots Records
Track listing
1. Age of Antumbra 2:00
2. Into The Woods 4:41
3. Umbra 6:22
4. August’s Burdens 4:59
5. Fire Above Mountain Below 5:08
6. Old Shaman Blind 5:08
7. Thunderground 3:40
8. Ruler of the Lake 5:14
9. A Black Winged Waltz 9:23
10. Nebulae (Virgo) 5:09
11. Omen of Millennia 3:56
12. Soy Real 5:11
Band members
Jorg August – vocals, guitars
Camilo Barbosa – lead guitars
Andres Gonzalez – bass
David Lopez – drums
