Primordial, devoid of the need for validation, stand as a formidable testament to their own existence. With a triumphant 30-year legacy and the unveiling of their tenth album, this Irish ensemble unequivocally solidifies their position as an unwavering force in their unwritten commitment to push the boundaries.

Following the reverberations of 2018's 'Exile Amongst The Ruins,' their latest offering, 'How It Ends,' once again amalgamates their quintessential fusion of Celtic and black metal (can they really be tagged with this label now?). It stands resolutely as a fusion of doom and traditional heavy metal, adorned only with fleeting echoes of melancholic black metal aesthetics, and subtle musical embellishments scattered sparsely throughout its chronicle.

Guided by the visionary direction of founding pillars Pól MacAmlaigh (bass) and Ciáran MacUilliam (guitar), alongside the unwavering rhythms of their longtime drummer, Simon O’Laoghaire, the band plunged headfirst into the creative abyss in the autumn of 2022, with Nemtheanga (vocals) harboring a vision of grander sonic expanses, yearning for a raw, unbridled aggression that would come to fruition. The album took shape within the hallowed confines of Hellfire Studios, nestled on the outskirts of Dublin, where the band took the reins as producers while enlisting the expertise of the seasoned collaborator, Chris Fielding, to engineer their auditory odyssey.

If one has traversed the pagan landscapes of Primordial's discography since the year 2005, 'How It Ends' shall hold no mystique, no revelation, nor disquieting dissonance to stir the soul. One might ponder, what aspirations can be harbored for musicians embarking upon their fifth decade of existence? Primordial, in their current incarnation, orchestrate mid-tempo, despondent metal renditions, entwined with beguiling folk cadences and enigmatic half-melodies with some meandering intros and outros. Their earlier opuses wielded these elements with greater gravitas and ingenuity, with 'The Gathering Wilderness' standing as a testament to their zenith.

The album's cover art lacks cohesion and quite frankly - it's a dull piece to look at after a first glance. This actually blends into some of the song writing too, the mundane and the meander creep in all too often. After all that has been said about the post-COVID era, one would anticipate Primordial to infuse their music with heightened passion and integrity, rather than succumbing to mere box-ticking and surreptitious indifference.

'We Shall Not Serve' starts off promising but there's a real sense of wasted potential as it progresses. Did they really listen back and think this is the best this song can be? Same with 'Ploughs to Rust, Swords to Dust', some decent ideas in there but some riffs should not have made it past quality control. How It Ends is the kind of album you assume is important, ultimately struts a bit, and signifies little.

On a brighter note, the album's production evokes a sense of grandeur and there's no doubting their originality. Imbued with an organic, reverberant ambiance, it bathes the listener in naturalistic hiss and pomp. The percussive elements resonate gloriously, maintaining unwavering consistency from the album's inception to its denouement. For aficionados of late '70s and early '80s rhythmic pulsations and the evocative guitar tones of Thin Lizzy, 'How It Ends' offers a plenitude of auditory delights.

'Victory has 1000 Fathers, Defeat is an Orphan' and 'How It Ends' would have best served swapped on the tracklisting even if it's the obvious choices but it starts and ends strong, but the intervening tracks trudge along aimlessly, devoid of purpose or dynamic variance mainly 'Call to Cernunnos' and 'Death Holy Death' which are very weak tracks. 'All Against All' is actually one of the standout tracks for me personally as there's an attempt at some risk taking and a stab of defiance that I was expecting from this album. Credit must be conferred upon the proficient drumming and exceptional bass work, with Simon O'Leary and Paul Mac Amley valiantly salvaging some moments of glory, even average to below average Primordial beats 90% of the bands out there.

In summation, 'How It Ends' culminates with an unimpressive exhalation and you are left wondering - is this it? I expected defiance, not dullness.