Released in 2021 via Flenser, Ragana’s We Know That the Heavens Are Empty is a devastatingly intense exploration of black metal, sludge, and dark experimental music. The album showcases the band’s ability to combine ferocity, atmosphere, and emotional depth, creating a soundscape that is both punishing and immersive.
The album opens with The End, immediately plunging the listener into searing guitars, crushing drums, and ominous, wailing vocals. Throughout We Know That the Heavens Are Empty, tracks such as Tower of Skulls and Hounds demonstrate Ragana’s mastery of dynamic contrast, alternating between relentless aggression, slow-burning sludge passages, and haunting, atmospheric interludes.
Instrumentation is dense and expressive. Guitars shift between sharp tremolo riffs, crushing chords, and droning textures that reinforce the album’s oppressive atmosphere. Bass and drums anchor the compositions with weight and precision, while the vocals range from anguished screams to guttural growls, amplifying the emotional intensity of the music.
Production emphasizes depth and raw power, capturing the brutality of the heavier sections while preserving the nuances of the more atmospheric passages. The pacing allows for tension to build naturally, pulling the listener through waves of intensity, despair, and dark beauty.
We Know That the Heavens Are Empty is not designed for casual listening; it is a deeply immersive and emotionally charged album that demands attention and engagement. Its blend of black metal ferocity and experimental texture makes it one of Ragana’s most compelling and challenging works to date.
Ultimately, We Know That the Heavens Are Empty stands as a defining statement for Ragana, an album that balances brutality, atmosphere, and emotional depth into a cohesive and unforgettable experience.
