Blackbraid, the atmospheric black metal project helmed by Sgah’gahsowáh (Jon Krieger), has in a remarkably short span established itself as a force of both cultural and musical significance. Emerging from the Adirondack wilderness in upstate New York, Blackbraid’s music is deeply rooted in the natural world and Indigenous heritage. Since the release of their debut, Blackbraid I, in 2022, the project has been lauded for revitalising black metal with a fresh, distinctively North American voice; one that blends nihilistic fury with the ancient, spiritual resonance of Sgah’gahsowáh’s Mohawk ancestry. The subsequent release, Blackbraid II, in 2023, saw this vision expand in scope and confidence, with production and composition alike taking bolder strides. Now, with Blackbraid III, the band both honours its roots and stretches the limits of its sound, offering a record that is as emotionally raw as it is musically ambitious.
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The signature Blackbraid sound fuses traditional second-wave black metal with folk instrumentation, acoustic interludes, and atmospheric flourishes. Sgah’gahsowáh’s vocals, alternately anguished and commanding, ride atop swells of distorted guitars and relentless percussion, often giving way to passages of flute, acoustic guitar, and melody lines rooted in Indigenous musical traditions. The lyrics, intensely personal and evocatively poetic, explore themes of nature, spiritual longing, resistance, and the ongoing trauma and resilience of Native American peoples. Blackbraid’s concept has always revolved around a sense of place. Specifically, the forests, rivers, and mountains of the Northeast—and the tension between modernity and an ancestral past.
Comparing Blackbraid III to its predecessors reveals a fascinating arc of growth. The debut album was raw, direct, and emotionally torrential: a clarion call that established the project’s identity with tracks like “The River of Time Flows Through Me” and “Barefoot Ghost Dance on Blood Soaked Soil.” Blackbraid II, released barely a year later, was more expansive and polished, with a greater emphasis on instrumental interludes and dynamic songwriting. Blackbraid III synthesises these elements, reaching for both greater heaviness and greater subtlety. The production is crystalline yet organic, allowing both the tremolo-picked guitars and the nuanced acoustic sections to breathe. The songwriting feels more assured, with each track forming a chapter in a larger narrative of survival, memory, and transformation.
Opening with a brief one minute long instrumental of melancholic acoustic guitar with a campfire gently crackling in the background until it seamlessly glides into “Wardrums At Dawn On The Day Of My Death.” Blackbraid III immediately immerses the listener in a soundscape of intense yet melodically rich tremolo and blast beats accompanied by Sgah’gahsowáh’s signature rasps and screams. “The Dying Death Of A Sacred Stag” begins with an almost mournful acoustic guitar before erupting with chugging melodic riffs and driving percussion. There’s a beauty behind the melancholic atmosphere, driven forward by incredible riffs and powerful roars. The track alternates between rhythmical mid tempo stomps and rapid blast beats, all maintaining a richly melodic air. “The Earth Is Weeping” invokes the essence of Mother Nature with sounds of a heavy rainfall and bird calls supported by melancholic acoustic guitar. This three and a half minute long instrumental serves as a brief reprieve from the black metal intensity, showcasing Blackbraid’s ability to weave natural influences within their music.
“God Of Black Blood” stands as one of the album’s most direct nods to traditional black metal with spiraling, icy riffs and thunderous drumming. Sgah’gahsowáh venomous screams and growls are particularly powerful on this track as it bulldozes its way through the fog with sheer ferocity. Wooden Native flute instruments make their mark on this track, adding an incredible spiritual experience before a soaring dual guitar attack takes centre stage. “Traversing The Forest Of Eternal Dusk” once again breaks up the intensity with another beautiful acoustic guitar instrumental accompanied by wooden flute instruments on the backdrop of an evening woodland setting. The electric guitar solo is soaring, mournful and absolutely stunning. This track feels confessional and deeply personal, its tone meditative rather than aggressive, and it provides a necessary moment of introspection within the album’s broader sweep.
The second half of the album showcases the band’s more artistic endeavours where each track is over nine minutes long, separated by another beautiful acoustic guitar instrumental in the form of “Like Wind Through The Reeds Making Waves Like Water.” “Tears Of The Dawn” and “And He Became The Burning Stars” are the album’s centerpiece; the jewels in the ancestral crown. Both tracks are sonic soundscapes which journey through several distinct movements of black metal: from thunderous to atmospheric and densely melodic. A declaration of spiritual survival and a return to speed and aggression but with a melodic sensibility that makes the tracks memorable, anthemic in nature and utterly captivating. The album’s concluding track is “Fleshbound,” a cover of the mighty Lord Belial, ending the album on an immaculate high.
The strengths of Blackbraid III are myriad. Foremost among them is the project’s ability to balance intensity and atmosphere, aggression and reflection. Instrumental performances throughout are tight and expressive, with the inclusion of native instruments feeling purposeful and natural rather than tokenistic. The lyrics remain a highlight, blending vivid imagery with sincere emotion and cultural specificity. Of course, no album is without its minor shortcomings. Listeners who prefer the unrefined ferocity of early Blackbraid may find the increased polish and experimentation here to be a departure from the project’s roots
In summary, Blackbraid III stands as a triumph not only for Blackbraid as an artistic project but for the ongoing evolution of black metal itself. It is an album that honours tradition even as it breaks new ground, merging the bleak majesty of the genre with the resonances of Indigenous history and identity. Blackbraid III is a record that demands to be experienced in full: immersive, cathartic, and deeply moving. It cements Blackbraid’s place as one of the most important and innovative voices in contemporary metal, and it will no doubt linger in the minds of listeners long after the final notes fade into silence.
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Blackbraid III is out on August 8th as an independent release
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