Coughing and cursing as they drag their cart of curious implements across the copse Germany-based black metal duo BOARHAMMER prepare their tutelage in examination of the rift between the realm of the living and the dead, embracing pandemonium and illusion on this third full-length album. A marked leap in both performance and stylized affect ‘III: Instruments of Fungal Intent‘ is simultaneously uglier, made raw in search of independence, and enlightened beyond the sub-genre imposed constraints of the past. Though their psychedelics-fed questing through black and heavy metal of old is familiar in modus and authorship they’ve ensured an entirely different third chapter thanks to broadening characterization and capability.

Boarhammer were forest-borne ca. 2020 between guitarist/vocalist Wodwoz and drummer, bassist, vocalist The Vessel with the shared goal of creating their own roots-bound alchemic black metal vision. What they’d conjured via a demo (‘I: Cutting Wood for Magickal Purposes‘, 2021) and a debut LP (‘II: Chemognosis – A Shortcut to Mushrooms‘, 2024) pulled from the foundations of first-’til-second wave craft for inspiration, taking on traits semblant of esoteric heavy metal oddity and heavy rock showmanship. In taking the cracked-open mind of late 80’s/early 90’s eastern European black metal outliers (Root, Master’s Hammer) and relating it to the psychosis of post-millennium traditional heavy metal infused acts (Hexenbrett, Malokarpatan) the duo’s style reeked aloud of strong personality outright but remained grounded in its own punkish, rocking edge. I’d gone into fine detail of the band’s sound and style in review their debut album, even going as far as to interview them with great admiration for their approach, and with all of that context the evolution found on album number three should strike the ear as organic.

Having developed a colder, darker, and freely moving dynamic in the interim Boarhammer rescind some of the polished exterior of their previous album for the rowdier, rawed ‘III: Instruments of Fungal Intent‘, intending to pull back into the grittiness of their first chapter while holding fast to the development of their mildly tuneful, imaginative black/heavy metal distinction at a quicker stride. Though they are still resolutely a black metal group the duo’ve leaned into the psilocybin-eating eccentricities available to their coalition, honing a surreal riff-driven edge rather than push into second wave pomp or atmospheric modernisms. The result is front-loaded with their best ideas for the most part but the total effect nonetheless lives up to the greater thread pulled through their discography.

Opener “Forest Grave Malediction” kicks the album off in the woods at night, where Boarhammer thrives loudest in their delirious heavy rocking black ritualer entrancement, slinging familiar magickry foisted by the post-‘F.O.A.D.‘ era Darkthrone weirding side of their gig and touching upon movement akin to black n’ roll in the groove that develops. Effects-dribbling guitar leads, grouped chanting and circularly grooving frenzy aid in the heavy metal spirit oozed, ramping around the ~4:04 minute mark via the riff cut under the solo. Though the piece doesn’t necessarily speak to a traditional opener so much as a bizarre summoning it ensures the band remain difficult to predict in their course. Standout “Bauk” extends its hand into spookier gloom-rock and disorderly guitar wrangling which additionally characterizes ‘III: Instruments of Fungal Intent‘, particularly ~1:59 minutes in where haunting declaration and angular black metal grooves give the piece a swinging push toward its heavier riffs.

As the first three pieces on ‘III: Instruments of Fungal Intent‘ crack on you’ll note rock rhythms overtaking, particularly as Boarhammer kick off “Psychotic Bogwitch”, though the song (and the album in general) turns a corner in approach of Side B with the ritualistic slog of “Spirits, Yours is the Gift of Madness” and the Motörheaded push that kicks off major highlight “Psychedelic Renaissance”. Otherwise the doomed avant-black shuffling of “Shades in the Triangle” is the major standout on the second half for my own taste, a menacing but theatric scowl of a song which clambers up to its peak with punkish rhythmic build. Though the band haven’t completely transformed their sound and style into something unrecognizable here it is clear that they’ve become increasingly eclectic in their treatment of rhythm throughout this record.

By the end of ‘III: Instruments of Fungal Intent‘ the duo only become more legibly stated, arguably even more “heavy metal” in character as closer “Gewitterlicht” brings in organesque keys and quasi-epic stride into its spread. I don’t know if I’d argue Boarhammer are mutating uncontrollably here so much as flexing a few different angles upon ideas that’d likewise thrived on its predecessor but here their ouevre boils over into new territory throughout. It is an entertaining evolution to witness and a fine listen thanks to a high rate of fire applied to their ideas, escaping pure iteration through their own wiles. A high recommendation.

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