Worm - Necropalace (2026)
I like the ambition more than I love the execution. Necropalace clearly wants to be monumental — gothic, theatrical, layered with symphonic textures and doom weight — but for me it never quite crosses into truly commanding territory. The atmosphere is thick, the production is polished, and the riffs are competent, yet the album feels more curated than dangerous. I hear the references — ’90s symphonic black metal, blackened doom grandeur — and they’re done well, but I rarely feel surprised.
There are moments where the scale clicks, especially when the tempo drops and the doom elements stretch out the tension. That’s where the band sounds most convincing. But across the full runtime, the impact plateaus. It’s immersive, yes — but not transformative. I respect it, I don’t fully surrender to it.
Pros
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Strong atmosphere & aesthetic coherence – The gothic, necromantic tone is consistent and fully realized.
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Solid production clarity – Dense arrangements remain readable; nothing collapses into mud.
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Ambitious compositions – Long-form structures and stylistic blending show intent beyond basic genre repetition.
Cons
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Derivative moments – Leans heavily on established symphonic black metal tropes.
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Limited emotional volatility – Intensity often feels controlled rather than visceral.
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Pacing drag – At this length, sections blur instead of escalating.
Genre: Symphonic Black Metal
Country: Italy
Final Verdict: 65% (Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 47th / 145
Highlight: Dragon Dreams
Made me think of:
Emperor
Dimmu Borgir
Behemoth
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