Introduction
Following the weight and momentum of their 2022 album Earthbound, Finnish death-sludge powerhouse Black Royal have returned with “Drown the Seaweed,” the first glimpse into their forthcoming M-Theory Audio album Abyssian. The Tampere-based quartet have built a reputation on enormous riffs, primal grooves and a distinctive Scandinavian heaviness, and the new single suggests they are preparing to push even further into darker, more cinematic territory.
Artist background
Black Royal were formed in Tampere, Finland, in 2013. After two acclaimed EPs, they released their debut album Lightbringer in 2018, a record that earned widespread praise and landed on numerous year-end lists thanks to its combination of crushing riff work and primal groove. The 2020 follow-up Firebride refined that identity through suffocating heaviness and memorable hooks, while 2022’s Earthbound — their first release through M-Theory Audio — marked another significant step forward in balancing aggression with melody. Over the past decade, the band have steadily established themselves as one of Finland’s most formidable heavy acts, drawing comparisons to Crowbar, Entombed, Mastodon and High on Fire while developing a voice that remains recognisably their own.
Review of the song
“Drown the Seaweed” opens with the kind of atmosphere the title promises: something initially weightless, drifting like mist across still water before the current begins to pull. The band describe the track as an attempt to create something ethereal, and for much of its opening the song lives up to that ambition, building a calm, immersive surface. Then the arrangement descends. As the C-section and guitar solos arrive, the track pulls the listener beneath the surface into darker, heavier water, transforming what began as a serene landscape into a crushing journey through melody and weight.
The concept draws on the ancient mystery of water — a force capable of both beauty and danger. Calm surfaces can hide something far more threatening, and Black Royal embrace that contrast fully. The result is a song where melancholic beauty and uncompromising heaviness coexist, held together by a hook-driven chorus that refuses to let the atmosphere drift too far from the centre.
Musical analysis
Black Royal’s sound sits somewhere between death metal, sludge and the darker traditions of Scandinavian extreme metal. On “Drown the Seaweed,” those elements remain intact, but the band introduce an even more pronounced atmospheric dimension. The guitars still deliver enormous riffs, the rhythm section still drives with primal groove, and the overall production retains the weight that has defined the band. What changes is the way space and melody are used: rather than simply crushing everything in their path, Black Royal allow quieter passages to create tension, making the heavier sections land with more force.
The track demonstrates that heaviness does not have to erase melody or emotional depth. The contrast between the mist-like opening and the submerged second half gives the song a clear dynamic arc, and the solo work in the C-section adds a cinematic quality that points toward the darker direction of Abyssian. For listeners who have followed the band since Lightbringer, this is a logical evolution rather than a departure.
Why listeners should pay attention
For anyone already familiar with Black Royal, “Drown the Seaweed” is a signal that Abyssian will not simply repeat the formula of Earthbound. The single expands the band’s sonic palette while keeping the enormous riffs and uncompromising heaviness that define their music. For new listeners, it is an ideal entry point: heavy enough to hit with immediate force, melodic enough to stay memorable, and atmospheric enough to pull the listener under its surface.
The accompanying music video, created by Markus Vähäaho of RAW•ART Creations and featuring actress Julia Koskimies, extends the song’s themes into a striking visual experience. The recording was produced by Arttu Sarvanne at Studio Watercastle, with mixing by Jussi Kulomaa at Metal Mixing and mastering by Jaakko Viitalähde at Virtalähde Mastering — a Finnish team that understands how to preserve both power and clarity.
Conclusion
With Abyssian scheduled for release on 30 October 2026, Black Royal are entering a new phase. “Drown the Seaweed” suggests that phase will be darker, deeper and more cinematic than anything the band have released before. The single does not abandon the death-sludge identity the band have spent years refining; instead, it stretches that identity into new territory, using atmosphere and melody as tools rather than concessions.
Beneath the surface, something is waiting. On this evidence, it is worth diving in.
Recommended for fans of
Crowbar, Entombed, Mastodon, High on Fire, sludge metal, Scandinavian death metal and atmospheric heavy music that balances crushing weight with melodic depth.
Follow the artist
Stream “Drown the Seaweed” on Spotify and YouTube, and follow Black Royal for Abyssian, future releases and live news.
— Review by Tomi Perrakoski / Metal Madness Weekly (c)
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