Via Doloris – Guerre et Paix Review: Atmospheric Black Metal from Norway (2026)

Via Doloris – Guerre et Paix album cover, atmospheric black metal Norway 2026
Artist: Via Doloris
Origin: Oslo, Norway
Label: Season of Mist
Released: March 20, 2026
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Rating: 8/10
Listen/Buy: Bandcamp

Via Doloris is the solo project of Gildas Le Pape , the known guitarist who spent years with Satyricon. Guerre et Paix is his debut, and it hits differently than expected.

Dark, atmospheric black metal with a folk edge. Seven tracks, none of them short. The songs take their time, and that is both the strength and the weakness here. There are moments where it feels alittle boring and drags out and a few passages could have been cut. But that slow, heavy crawl is also what gives this album its identity.

The drumming is the first thing you notice. Frost of 1349 and Satyricon behind the kit ,and it shows. Blast beats, power, brutality. Fantastic throughout. He drives the whole thing forward without stepping on the melodies,it is marvellous. And the vocal is also very good , it fit this album so much , the bass is in a league of its own.

The two tracks that got me were "Omniprésents" and "Visdommens Vei I". Darker, slower, more atmospheric. A feeling of longing, grief and solitude that cuts right through. That is what black metal is to me. Good work.

Production is solid. Vocals work, bass comes through, and the Norwegian black metal feel runs through everything. Nothing to complain about.

Guerre et Paix grows with every listen. Recommended.

Rating: 8/10

I'll be spinning more albums — stay tuned!

Hauk


If you enjoyed this, check out:
Hubris – Acts of Sedition Review
Se, Josta Ei Puhuta – Syvyyden Portit On Saatava Auki Review
Desolus – Dwellers of the Twilight Void Review
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