Album Review: Decline Of The I – Wilhelm (Agonia Records)

French philosophic post-black metallers Decline Of The I emerge with their fifth studio album, ‘Wilhelm’, due to be released on February 14th, 2025, via Agonia Records.

Not just blackened to its core, this new Decline Of The I album comes weighted down by sombre melody and dark atmosphere. It’s black metal, there is no denying that, but its in an evolved form that oozes horrible and harsh atmosphere, to the point where it starts to transform into post.

Their imagination is aflame, and while the album might start off in such a chaotic and savage way, the opener L’ Alliance Des Rats has so much more to offer. Dour melodies, haunting vocals, crashing doom-infusions, and a never-ending supply of blackened ferocity. It, and every single epic that follows, is immense. A fascinating look in the deepest and darkest of depths, where the blackness seems to be solid, and the longer you stare, the more transfixed you become.

The void is calling, and its pull is hard to deny. Especially when each tome (and there are only five) comes with so much garish wickedness and is sumptuously detailed. Just because it falls on the harsher side of the metal world, doesn’t mean words like extravagant don’t apply here. Although when dealing with something like Entwined Conundrum, the word ‘weird’ certainly applies too. Here, Decline Of The I show of some elaborate progressive tendencies that are borderline unlistenable in places. Yet, how this section fits in the bigger picture, is what remains, especially when their blackened side comes crashing back in with such force.

The intensity isn’t made any lighter with Diapsalmata either. As a melancholic vein of melody runs all the way through a track that hits with an immense amount of force. Then, around the halfway mark it turns into something that can be best be described as disturbing.

You’re not wicked for enjoying this, it’s all the fault of Decline Of The I, who have crafted something spellbinding. They have a hypnotic hold and the fire and fury of Éros N only makes that stronger. Why fight a losing battle?

Just sit back and let it happen, the ceaseless void is beginning to stare back now and everyone who has made it this far, while find themselves deeply enamoured with the finale of The Renouncer too. Dark and dangerous, grand and glorious, hellacious and horrifying, there’s nothing quite like this track on the album, as it has such a cinematic feel. Yet, it is the culmination of a journey, and one last arduous trek through bleak and black locales. You’ll be left feeling this one for some time after, not just through the physical exertion of hearing it, but through the mental drain it forces upon you. It’s pretty spectacular.

Decline Of The I – Wilhelm Track Listing:

1. L’ Alliance Des Rats
2. Entwined Conundrum
3. Diapsalmata
4. Éros N
5. The Renouncer

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