IZTHMI is a five piece band from Seattle that formed in 2016. “The Arrows Of Our Ways” is their debut full length album! Per IZTHMI, the concept of this album is “the journey of the self and finding solace through love in a time of extreme oppression and ecological detriment.” While the idea is abstract, it is successfully conveyed through their music. IZTHMI’s brand of black metal is difficult to squarely place in one category, but it is melodic, atmospheric, and progressive all at once. This could be due to their many influences: progressive black metal, doom metal, and noise/ambient. The riffs and chord progressions on this album are beautiful and captivating. Tracks seamlessly transition between breakneck black metal riffs and slower paced guitar harmonies. Don’t expect to hear raw black metal. The production on this album is fairly clean, which suits this style of black metal.