Review by Sonny for Sojourner - Premonitions (2020)

I've really enjoyed Sojourner's output to date. There is something that speaks to me in their sweeping, expansive atmo-black compositions that conjure gorgeous mental pictures of the landscape of the band's home country of New Zealand. They inspire the same feelings inside me as the best of the UK's black metal acts, Saor and Winterfylleth, which is not really surprising as all three are heavily influenced by their respective country's natural surroundings and New Zealand strikes me as very similar to the more remote and unspoiled regions of Britain.

The eight tracks here are long enough to allow the music to breathe and impart their vision of the natural world. The vocals are of the harsh male / ethereal female dichotomy and there is liberal use of keyboards throughout to add layers to the lush atmosphere.

I've marked this down compared to the previous two albums because it feels a little too aggressive this time around and I feel this increased aggression is less effective in it's portrayal of the band's aesthetic. Still a good slab of atmospheric black metal though for those who enjoy the more folksy side of the genre.