Blut Aus Nord have always pushed the boundary of what black metal is, but 777-Cosmosophy strays so far from the genre’s rotting carcass that it can scarcely be considered black metal at all. Don’t let that scare you off though; this is an amazing album. Never ones to be content with the limitations of “trve kvlt” black metal, Blut Aus Nord further incorporate aspects of industrial, noise, and progressive music into their repertoire. The end result is a droning, swirling maelstrom of sound that evokes grim, frozen wastelands more effectively than the clowns in Dimmu Borgir could ever dream of doing. If you’re looking for standard, cookie cutter “I’m 15 and pissed at daddy” black metal, you may want to steer clear. But if you’re looking for a listening experience that will challenge you as much as it rewards you, look no further.