This is the debut album from Sweden's Lömsk, a band that plays black metal with a lot of melody and atmosphere but also a good deal of power. There's no folk instrumentation or influences here, just harsh howling, a riffing style of guitar work and ample keyboards that combine to create not only a sense of space but also an immediate presence, as if the band is in the same room. I find the songwriting solid overall, but the songs themselves don't vary as much as they could. It's the guitar work, which is heavy but not grating, and that allows the melody and power to blend so well. Fans of Uada, Immortal and Summoning should find something to like on Act II - Of Iron and Blood.