Patience is a virtue, or so they say, and it's one that Primordial fans will attest to. In the 2010s, the Irish black metallers released no more than three albums. Now in 2023, "How It Ends," their first of this decade is unleashed. Despite stating that they didn't work on much, if anything, during the pandemic, the band are offering some extremely well-crafted material to listeners. It's been five years but not only is Primordial still in good shape, but they may be back to their best.

The album gets going with the title track, where a lone guitar lights the beacon for nearly two minutes until the rest of the band joins in to create an anguished cry not just for humanity's future, or lack thereof, but to the indifference and ignorance which seems to welcome it. Primordial has always had a real talent for stirring the imagination and "How It Ends" is just one of the many songs on the record which does just that. Other examples would be "We Shall Not Serve," a rousing battle cry with a vicious streak, and "Call To Cernunnos," which stays at a galloping pace but allows the mind ample room to absorb its epic feel.

Some surprises and outside influences make their way onto the record too, perhaps most notably, "All Against All," which is a wonderful throwback to the old-school black metal approach first heard from Bathory, with a little Necromantia, Immortal, and Pagan Altar all thrown in for good measure, yet still remaining distinctly Primordial. "Pilgrimage To The World's End" is another that might catch the listener off guard, with its Gothic melodies reminiscent of the darker side of The Cure, a la "End" or "Burn." It's on songs like these where one really notices just how integral Ciáran MacUiliam's guitar is to Primordial's sound, which can also be said of "Ploughs To Rust, Swords To Dust," where the instrument takes centre stage.

Alan Averill is, as always, in fine form too. His vocals range from soaring and bombastic to embittered growls like a wild animal warning the rest of the fauna to stay away. He stands out particularly on the closing number, "Victory Has 1000 Fathers, Defeat Is An Orphan," somehow crafting a catchy chorus out of such a relatively long title. Such is his presence that despite clocking in at less than three minutes, he's sorely missed on the instrumental "Traidisiúnta," a track which the group probably could have gotten more out of.

While there are no duds on the album, there are a few songs that feel like they could have been improved upon. "Nothing New Under The Sun," for example, is definitely a grower, but feels repetitive at times and requires some patience to let it build. "Death Holy Death" is a good song, but on an album with some absolutely amazing works, it feels a little below the standard Primordial set for themselves. Honestly though, going back over the record and looking for faults is a job in and of itself and not one which needs doing, so further nitpicks can stay out of this review.

All in all, "How It Ends" is probably the best Primordial album since "Redemption At The Puritan's Hand," or maybe even "To The Nameless Dead." It's got variety, energy, emotion, and honesty and really feels like a classic Primordial record. Longtime fans will love it and newcomers, providing they have the patience for longer songs, will find a band that they'll want to embrace completely. Primordial has always done things on their own terms and that's one of the things that has made them so endearing and beloved by their fans, staying true to themselves and their vision, which has made them the top metal band in their homeland. "How It Ends" is proof that despite setbacks, a band can still go on to craft extremely strong work. One hopes that they will continue to grow and if we're lucky enough to still be here in five years, we'll no doubt have a successor worth the agonising wait.