Year: 2026
Label: Sun & Moon Records

In a genre quite dominated by entirely synthesized instrumentation and stolen/borrowed sound sources such as classical music recordings, Hungarian Sturmast (who share members with Napsorvadás and Larrnakh, who we’ve covered before) are a pleasant exception to the rule. Instead of the usual one-man fare, here is a trio who, apart from synthesizers, also employ real instruments.

Nos Ipsi is only the project’s second album, following 2007’s Ibis Redibis Nunquam In Bello Peribis – making Sturmast the second act in the broad post-industrial martial/neofolk spectrum to release a much belated sophomore album in 2026. (The other being Die Weisse Rose, whose second album we reviewed recently.)

Despite a slightly atypical instrumentational approach to the genre, Sturmast’s sound roots itself in the traditions of martial industrial. Fans of noughties martial industrial, labels such as Bird Of Prey and War Office and their roster will most likely be particularly interested.

What this translates to is percussion-driven, militant but also decidedly melancholic post-industrial music. Powerful percussion provides a solid and dynamic backbone for the music; synthesizers and the other instruments weave atmospheres of both boisterous and majestic, as well as somber and melancholy. Sometimes, the music is surprisingly multi-layered, with sonic details to discover for the attentive listener. Upon these, the vocals recite rather than sing in assertive tones of strength.

Much of Nos Ipsi’s power comes from the central role of the percussion, which gives the whole album a more rhythmic feel than a lot of other martial industrial. Take for example tracks like Vérem Az Álmom or album opener Alattam A Föld, Felettem Az Ég, Bennem A Létra; in contrast to most other martial industrial which, despite often emphasizing military percussive patterns, sounds rather static, these tracks have that aforementioned dynamic quality about them. I suppose this is where Sturmast set themselves apart by being a trio who play instruments instead of tracking everything on a computer: it is the human factor making itself heard.

Nos Ipsi isn’t, however, cut from just one cloth. There are passages where the imposing bombast of the rhythmic barrage subsides, allowing for acoustic guitars and more subtle atmospherics. These provide a welcome counterbalance, ensuring the album never becomes too one-sided or repetitive.

Nos Ipsi succeeds in, on the one hand, being an album that echoes strongly the archetypal and traditional sound of martial industrial; and, on the other, in forging a sound that is its own. This is well suited for an album whose title is Latin for “ourselves” and, on many tracks, deals with questions of identity. It establishes its own unique nature without artificially separating itself from the continuum of its chosen genre.

This makes for an album that is very easy to recommend. Whilst it doesn’t have many standout tracks – not unusual for a martial industrial album – it is an album that, as a whole, has considerable power and appeal. I’ve said it before, but on this I’m happy to repeat myself: though the fortunes of martial industrial have waned since the genre’s heyday, as long as albums like this are released, I’m not too worried. The spirit still lives.

Visit Sturmast on Bandcamp