Emerging from the shadows of Brazil and now based in Germany, Mordrean is the solo project of Demona, a woman unafraid to dive headfirst into the raw, ritualistic essence of black metal. With In Memoriam Tenebrae, her long-awaited debut full-length (released in 2023 via Dominance of Darkness Records), she conjures an album that feels like a personal invocation of chaos, darkness, and inner torment.

This is no-frills black metal — inspired by the classic second wave but fueled by a personal, almost spiritual sense of isolation. The album opens with “Intro – The Cave,” a whispered descent into darkness, before exploding into a storm of blast beats, hissed incantations, and tremolo-picked fury. But this isn’t wall-to-wall aggression — Demona knows how to weave cold, ambient textures and atmospheric interludes between her fire-breathing moments, giving the record a hypnotic, meditative flow.

Her vocals are the centerpiece — screeching, rasping, and unholy, echoing with spectral reverb and raw intensity. Songs like “The Occult Path Into Forgotten Wisdom” and the title track stand out with haunting melodies and a balance between ritualistic calm and rabid black metal assault. The lyrics wander through English, German, Portuguese, Latin, and French, adding to the mystique and esoteric depth of the album.

What In Memoriam Tenebrae lacks in polish, it makes up for in sincerity, atmosphere, and conviction. This is true underground black metal — a solitary voice howling in the dark, armed with nothing but a guitar, a vision, and a burning desire to channel the void. For those who crave orthodox black metal that doesn’t pander, Mordrean offers a bleak and beautiful descent.