Album Review: Flowers Of Rust – Crude Exhibitions Of The Soul (Apocalyptic Witchcraft)

Originally released in November 2025 and on an extremely limited run of hand-numbered CDs, ‘Crude Exhibitions of the Soul’ is getting a second lease on life thanks to an alliance between Flowers of Rust and international label Apocalyptic Witchcraft. It will be released on August 7th, 2026.

The solo project of Jake O’Brian, the album features the drumming of J V Green (Burial Oath, Goatchamber etc) and a guest guitar contribution from Thorn Blackfyre (Black Altar, Vástígr etc).

Together, they make beautiful misery, the charismatic blackened kind, and while it is raw, there’s no doubt that Jake has a refined palette. Showcasing dark detail, salacious intensity, and a nasty streak across seven effortless examples of atmospheric black metal. It’s good that the album is being given the chance to reach more ears, as it certainly deserves it.

A short melodic intro called Eigengrau opens things, but it can in no way prepare the mind for what follows with the title track. This is where Flowers of Rust unleashes a hellishly heavy sound that oozes melancholy. The vocal delivery is one of desperation, cutting through the miasma of existence in razor sharp fashion.

However, as much as I like that track, it’s Sour Mercy that really perks my ears up. First, by combining sinister synths with dreary heaviness, then, as the track goes on, unleashing a cacophony of focused harshness. The spoken word vocals are incredibly powerful.

It’s a high point that isn’t quite surpassed even though there are plenty of other highlights. Tracks like the experimental Brave New Corpse, which is methodical and repetitive, but with an interesting, chaotic edge. Tracks like the thick Bright Violence, which has some epic twists, and tracks like the dynamic Mother Atrophy, which gets quite daring with its tone switch. Not exactly thrilling, but certainly interesting as I found myself coming back to it time and time again to try and understand it better.

As for Driftwood? A minute of melody. An outro that helps bookend things nicely. I like it.

It’s a challenging listen, that much can be assured, but it is a satisfying listen. There are moments of brilliance, and it does feel fresh, but the blackened rawness won’t be for everyone.

Flowers of Rust – Crude Exhibitions of the Soul Track Listing:

1. Eigengrau
2. Crude Exhibitions of the Soul
3. Sour Mercy
4. Brave New Corpse
5. Bright Violence
6. Mother Atrophy
7. Driftwood

Links

Bandcamp | Facebook | Apocalyptic Witchcraft