The word Thelema means will, and while there’s no line of lyrics or narrative in the promo material to clarify the meaning, the fragments of acoustic references to Satan and the generally extreme but hymnal atmosphere of the music convey the provocative rebellion and existential weight that suit this word well.
Decipher’s sound is broadly the same as that of Arcane Paths, a savagery of Watain-meets-Dissection tempered -if one can call it that- by a darker, more otherworldly side that draws more inspiration from Icelandic bands like Svartidauði. While they remain committed to the frequent use of group vocal lines and plenty of recognizable malevolent blackened riffing, Thelema sees the band experimenting a little more. While they don’t wander -with the possible exception of “Bound to the Wheel”- the songs stretch their themes into more variations (“The Black March,” “Towards Renaissance”) or into strange solos, while the tempos change more often and build tension for longer before unraveling and transforming. The mere five minutes added are enough to give the compositions more presence, whether through active malice (“Return to Nought,” “Seven Scars”) or ominous perfection (“Liturgy”). Passing through the cliff edge that would see a descent into atmospheric black, there’s a loosening and a layering in the melodic lines that deepens and darkens the sound.
Thelema demonstrates that Decipher’s mastery of rhythm, melody and daring has improved, as it combines with the shared power of hookiness and evil. Using repeated patterns of riff, vocals and percussion that each interconnect, Decipher create a sense of thrashing push-and-pull that is utterly magnetic. A group wails while hurling down a rugged arpeggio (“Seven Scars”). The way a guitar climbs up and down to the exact rhythm of the drums (“Return to Nought”, “Hail Death”). These emerge organically from existing tempos – blast beat (“Seven Scars”), march (“The Black March”) or shuffling skitter (“Towards Renaissance”), making the shifts seamless and the identity consistent. Perhaps this is black metal that isn’t unusual on paper, but adorned with Decipher’s most recognizable bright yet ominous melodies and consistently multi-layered vocals, it sounds refreshingly thrilling. The chills that run down my spine when I hear the first riff on the opening track «Return to Naught», the solo that ends «The Black March» and the overlapping screams and urgent tremolo of «Litany» have yet to fail to materialize.
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Thelema’s pleasure and power for its listener are also reinforced by Decipher’s additional improvements in areas that weren’t lacking in the past. By cutting out any instrumental break or drawn-out intro, the energy -however it transforms- and momentum are maintained, and the album has a more dynamic line. The rhythmic and thematic shifts are flexible and emerge in varied ways with emphasis and mournful or spiteful intensity. The laments are just as agonizing and chest-emptying in the second half as in the first. Decipher’s production has also expanded to accommodate their slightly thinner and more exploratory sound. Thelema features a spacious mix that preserves the scattered vocal and guitar lines, and the proudly struck drums and rattling cymbals are equally audible and impressive.
I remember complaining about the lack of zhuzh on Arcane Paths, and whether I still consider that justified or not, it certainly wouldn’t be here. Despite all the new layers and senses of intrigue, Thelema remains a black metal album with standout moments that threaten to overshadow and saturate the more typical tracks, and may hit some harder than others. However, it undeniably shows that Decipher are carving out a decisive space for themselves that outlines a dark, delicious presence. Thelema sits one step back from the relentless nature that gives grandeur to its sphere. But it’s a small step.
Rating: Very good
DR: 11 | Format reviewed: 320kbps mp3
Label: Transcending Obscurity Records
Websites: Bandcamp | Releases on Facebook worldwide: March 20, 2026
The Review Was Done By Αngry Metal Guy.
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