It’s been years since I first stumbled upon Grey Aura’s debut album, Waerachtighe Beschryvinghe van drie Seylagien, ter werelt noyt soo vreemt ghehoort, while browsing the catalog of Svart Records, placing an order at the time. The Finnish label Blood Music had released the album as a beautifully presented double CD accompanied by a small booklet. I was immediately struck by the depth of its themes and the quality of its execution. It was clearly a work created with great attention to detail and conceptual coherence — something rarely encountered so thoroughly in the extreme metal genre.
In the years that followed, Grey Aura continued to explore deeply conceptual territory. Band member Ruben Wijlacker wrote the novel De protodood in zwarte haren, which would form the basis for their second album Zwart Vierkant (2021), and now its recently released sequel Zwart Vierkant – Slotstuk, issued via Avantgarde Music. Although I haven’t read the novel myself (yet), I did come across a brief summary. The story centers around a Spanish artist in 1924 who develops an unhealthy obsession with abstract art. His fixation extends beyond his creative output — he seeks to abstract his entire life. As he becomes increasingly detached from the tangible world, he ultimately attempts to break through the fabric of physical reality itself.
Musically, Grey Aura once again delivers an impressive display of avant-garde black metal on this album. From the very first notes, it’s immediately clear how much care, dedication, and craftsmanship has gone into both the writing and production. Each track exudes a strong sense of intent, as if every sound, transition, and outburst has been placed with the utmost precision.
Slotstuk effortlessly shifts between various moods and styles. At times, it leans into straightforward black metal — raw, intense, and furious — while elsewhere, the music ventures into progressive tempo shifts, atmospheric passages, or experimental elements that unsettle the listener but remain deeply compelling. A lot happens over the course of this album, yet it never feels forced or overloaded. Everything seems to fall into place with a natural sense of logic.
What stands out most is how well Slotstuk connects with the previous Zwart Vierkant album. It doesn’t feel like a mere continuation, but rather a necessary second chapter that completes the narrative. The musical and thematic threads from the first part are extended, deepened, and ultimately brought to a powerful climax. In doing so, Grey Aura not only presents a cohesive two-part work but also further cements their place within the progressive side of the black metal scene.
It’s something you have to appreciate, as it’s not the familiar blast-and-shred style we all love so much. But if you’re in the mood for something different, a new approach, then Grey Aura is highly recommended.
90/100
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