US dark wizards ONE OF NINE have emerged with a first spell from their upcoming second full-length offering, “Dawn of the Iron Shadow”, set for release on October 31st through Profound Lore Records, with pre-orders open at the following link: https://profoundlorerecords.merchtable.com. The cover artwork was crafted by Ted Nasmith. In the album, we can witness the quest appearance of the following musicians: Hulder as Tear Maiden, M. as Lord of All, Langon as Loremaster, S. as Luthien.

North Carolina’s ONE OF NINE play JRR Tolkien inspired majestic black metal and are the most prominent Tolkien/Lord Of The Rings black metal band since the legendary Summoning. Their sophomore LP Dawn of the Iron Shadow (out Oct 31 through Profound Lore Records) follows their 2023 debut LP Eternal Sorcery which laid the foundation for ONE OF NINE trodding their way to the forefront of the new breed of US black metal. With Dawn of the Iron Shadow (which is graced by cover art courtesy of legendary Tolkien artist Ted Nasmith), ONE OF NINE elevate their black metal sorcery to a more epic and glorious plateau. One that is more expanded in its vision of grandeur and scope through its symphonic and grandiloquent magnificence.

“Long have I listened to the songs of the Southron tongues, and low have I seen flung the banners of empires now unmoored in the tide of history. I have traced the bloodlines of kings to the very marrow, weighed every rune that once lit the high towers. And yet, this I cannot name. They are the Nine. Shrouded, innominate, but ever present,they descend across these lands like grave mist over the battle strewn dead.Their song is the unmaking of the world. All hear the black melody dimly in the silence of Night’s shadow, as if faint voices behind the heavy door were singing to thee, beckoning to thee… They are as crawling thunder before the Iron Shadow, Warlords and Heralds of the Hungering King. A piercing chorus of rusted shrieking, a cloying dread of which none can find refuge, they carry not banners but the grim auspices of Doom. Do not seek them. Do not name them. The Nine have risen. Their song is heard through the door.”

Tracklist:
1.Parley at the Gates
2.Age of Chains
3.Dreadful Leap
4.Of Desperate Valor
5.Behold the Shadow of My Thoughts
6.Bauglir
7.Quest of the Silmaril
8.Death Wing Black Flame

The first revealed song  is a retelling of the tragic tale of Túrin son of Húrin and the bitter fate of Nienor. “Dreadful Leap”, featuring the spectral presence of Hulder as the Tear Maiden, offers a glimpse into the band’s forthcoming epic sonic tale:

“The page turns, and old sorceries die. Túrin, son of Húrin, has struck dead Glaurung, the dread worm!”,  wrote One of Nine.