Although Alghazanth aren't a major name in black metal, they have been a part of Finland's extreme metal scene since 1995.

Wreath of Thevetat is black metal of the symphonic variety, which means that it aims for a balance of the extreme and the musical.

This 2007 recording won't appeal to black metal purists and hardliners who insist that only the more severe black metal bands -- Marduk and Gorgoroth, for example -- are legitimate, and that a band like Dimmu Borgir plays a watered down version of black metal.

What is a sellout or a bastardization to one headbanger is enjoyably musical to another, and Wreath of Thevetat is definitely on the more musical side of black metal -- which isn't to say that this is a mellow or laid-back album by any stretch of the imagination.

Wreath of Thevetat rocks aggressively hard, and lead singer Mikko Kotamäki, aka Goat Tormentor (also known for his contributions to the Finnish doom metal band Swallow the Sun), provides harsh, abrasive rasp vocals that weren't exactly designed for mainstream tastes.

But while Wreath of Thevetat is about intensity and forcefulness, it is also about melody, harmony, and intricacy.

Nuance isn't a high priority for Marduk or Gorgoroth, but it is definitely a high priority for Alghazanth.

Wreath of Thevetat doesn't bring anything new or different to the table -- anyone who has been listening to symphonic black metal extensively since the '90s has heard it all before -- and it isn't in a class with, say, Dimmu Borgir's best work.

Nonetheless, Wreath of Thevetat is a decent, satisfying, well-crafted effort that is worth hearing if one likes his/her black metal on the melodic side.