By Tom Sundgren
Worm’s New Full-Length Necropalace Is Darker Than Ever And Carries A More Evil Edge
Brief history on the band sonically. When going back to the beginning of Worm’s inception, you will come across lo-fi demos (The Deep Dark Earth Underlies All and Nights in Hell) which give almost a raw DSBM sound but overall death metal/early Katatonia vibe also. Some essence of doom metal as well. When their first full-length Evocation of The Black Marsh came out, a little more death metal occurred as well.
By the time they released Gloomlord though in 2017, the sound had higher quality in the recording production that also added more sludgy characteristics to the chainsaw guitar tone. Overall, this one was more old-school death metal but doom at times with also black metal vocals here and there.
When their 2021 release Foreverglade came out, things begin to be more streamlined with the genres coming together more naturally. The death metal even heavier, more dynamics in the songs, and more melodic moments in general. Amazing guitar solos as well.
But once their EP Bluenothing came out in 2022, more attention from the metal community occurred with their unique blending of extreme metal. Black metal, doom metal, and Shrapnel Records 80s era shred was prominent than ever. But the cohesiveness of it all from riff to riff was unbelievable, making the formula truly unique for them. Their split EP Starpath the following year honed in on even more melody, melancholy, and epic sections. **
Fast forward to today February 13th, 2026 and we are at their most thematic, dark, and evil record to date. Worm’s lyrical themes and tag on their merch “necromantic black doom” is inevitable now. Their music videos for the singles “Necropalace” and “Blackheart” give homage to 90s black metal and vampiric slasher scenery. Giving off rad fantasy and cheesy in one. But cult followings in film and music can always be viewed as cheesy but it does not take away from the art portrayed any less.
A big new element on this album is that there are symphonic black metal motifs throughout. Early albums for bands like Old Man’s Child, Dimmu Borgir, and Emperor are the closest to relate it to.
But Worm’s special potions of soundscapes are still intact. The orchestral synths occur more and are as vital to the song themes as the slow bathing doom guitar chords are. And the guitar layered harmonies for the leads display still, they just might not be sprinkled in as much compared to Starpath. But the songs on Necropalace are a lot longer as well and less direct when comparing.
“Halls of Weeping” has the most sinister approach to the keys and displays a consistent bleak ambiance. “The Night Has Fangs” shows neoclassical moments that come back and forth with the doom.
The most epic and world wind of emotions in a short time of the album, would have to be at the 4:27 to 5:33 minute mark of the song “Dragon Dreams”. An intricate acoustic guitar, followed by huge distorted chords on top with the drums; to then come in with an insanely melodic hammer-on riff that is then flourished with rich harmonies. Phantom Slaughter’s hellish clear high screams then line up perfect with the guitars and energy. And then the song elevates even higher with a guitar solo that has high pitched harmonics, outstanding bends, and unique whammy bar articulation.
“Blackheart” stands out the most of the album with a very powerful sadness in the guitar leads and layering throughout. Verses and choruses are memorable first listen and clean guitars over distorted ones add an extra atmosphere throughout. The outro guitar lead strikes through with feelings of remembrance and honor, adding great depth to the dynamics.
The massive closing track “Witchmoon: The Infernal Masquerade”, painstaking darkness remains in the DNA while taking a variety of directions. As far as the keys and guitar melodies, it seems almost baroque at times. The song has fast moshing moments to slow funeral doom tempos.
Around the 8:54 minute mark, Phil Tougas (Wroth Septentrion) and legendary virtuoso Marty Friedman do an insane guitar dual over 3 minutes long! Something that has never been displayed in that capacity with these specific sub-genres in one. The solos are relentless back and forth, jaw dropping, and almost reflects a song within a song.
Overall Necropalace can be a relatively long listen for the first time through. But around the third time playing it, more things seem to connect in direction and the riffs get more and more memorable. This album may seem more up your alley if you are big on 90s black metal. But there are so much other aspects of other extreme metal genres and shred to catch often in every song as well. Worm is here to stay for many fans of extreme metal and it seems that 2026 and 2027 will be the big tours, where they will have the opportunity to spread their dark gospel.
Out on Century Media Records today for purchase HERE
Score: 8.5 out of 10
Categories: News
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