If you know anything about J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, your ears should definitely perk up at the band name Theoden's Reign. Indeed, the lyrical theme of this one-man band is the epic fantasy world of Tolkien, and its music genre is atmospheric black metal. With this lyrical and music genre combination, the band that should immediately come to mind is Summoning.
In a way, I could end this review right here, because once you're familiar with Summoning, you basically already know exactly how Theoden's Reign sounds: synth-heavy, atmospheric soundscapes with raspy blackened vocals. Even the cover art looks like a shameless copy of Old Mornings Dawn.
So, why am I bothering reviewing this, and why should you bother giving Theoden's Reign a listen? The answer is quite simple: originality aside, the musical quality here is just so-damn-good!
Named after Osgiliath, the capital city of Gondor, their sophomore album Citadel Of The Stars takes the listener on a magical journey, from the elven forests, through the dwarven caverns, to the roaring waterfalls of Rauros. Despite sinister-sounding vocals, the music on display is incredibly uplifting thanks to the synth playing, emulating a wide array of keys, flutes, bells, and different string instruments that coalesce into a welcoming medieval vibe.
The consistently fast-paced drumming and soaring tremolo-picked riffs lead the charge in the creation of triumphant songs. Each track offers catchy lead melodies that, combined with the diverse synth sounds, provide a truly enjoyable, immersive experience. It's practically impossible to choose a favorite song here, as they are all consistently great, but I'll single out a couple: the very groovy melodies on “Beholding the Chamber of Marzabul” and the surprisingly ominous atmosphere of “The Waters of Rauros”. Plus, to get a taste of their ability to create enchanting ambience, I also recommend the short instrumental interlude “Thranduil's Halls”. But, really, you can't go wrong with any of them. So, you may as well start with the opening banger, “The Gates of Caras Galadhon”, and let the churning waters of Anduin the Great guide you the rest of the way.
In the end, are Theoden's Reign a Summoning clone? Absolutely. But, with Summoning’s last release being already 7 years ago, I'm happy that someone is attempting to fill the vacuum, scratching that Tolkienian black metal itch. So, if you aren't on the lookout for originality and just want an incredibly well-done piece of magical meloblack, then Citadel Of The Stars is exactly what you need!
