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Hard to believe this is the tenth album for Primordial, who have carved their own bloody way through the metal firmament, producing absolute masterworks like The Gathering Wilderness, Spirit the Earth Aflame, and To the Nameless Dead. They seem to have reached the stage of their career where they are putting out a lot of boxed sets and compilations, which can be a sign that a band is entering their autumnal period. They put out Exile Amongst the Ruins in 2018, and gosh, kind of a lot has happened since then. Since I thought that album was a bit weak, despite a few strong points, I wasn't sure what a new album would bring us.

Overall, this is a stronger album than the last few have been, with deeper compositions that don't get mired in overly intellectual structures and didactic lyrics. The layers are back, like they used on To the Nameless Dead, and it gives this album a lot more texture and atmosphere. The band is leaning a lot harder on the Doom elements that have always been part of their sound, and it makes for a very dark album, even for this band. The bitterness and anger that marks the best Primordial works is back in the mix, and Nemtheanga's vocals are angrier and more biting. The album is also more consistent, and rather than have a few highlights and a lot of decent stuff, this is a solid slab of Celtic steel all the way through. Songs like the opening title cut, "Ploughs to Rust, Swords to Dust" and "Call to Cernunnos" are as good as any work Primordial have done.