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A Chilean black metal band was something new for me and I must admit my expectations were really low despite South America has spawned some interesting cult acts in the past, such as Sarcofago, Sepultura or Mortem. Animus Mortis present this release as the first real impact at worldwide basis. It contains two songs from a split-CD´05 (“Thresholds Of Insanity” and “Dying Murmur”) and the rest belong to the “Desolate Landscapes” demo recorded in 2004, so this is not a real full-length recording nor anything similar but simply a teaser to make the band known. My first impression wasn´t good at all mainly due to the noisy-hazy production which was the madrigal of a sonic beast hardly recognizable. Further listenings began to make the curtain fell, unveiling the potential of the band which I think is considerable. The black metal performed by these guys is dense and rich in arrangements, the kind of managed turmoil that demands the black soul´s senses to snatch the laments of the creator ciphered through the notes. Animus Mortis exhibit some resemblances with bands like Svartsyn (even the bassdrum sound is similar to Svartsyn´s “Destruction Of Man”, by the way!)
though the sound of the Chileans is more varied and twisted; it´s based on pounding drums and infernal riffs inspired by Nordic bands. The band isn´t fond of long songs and that makes the listening still shorter than it really is. Going back to the production, strangely enough the demo songs sound cleaner than the newer, and these acceptable conditions allow the listener to appreciate splendid moments like “Desolate”, my favourite track on the CD and in my humble opinion the most representative of the kind of metal these guys feel comfortable playing. Darn, the song´s too short, I´d say! Some little nuances here and there must be worked on, things as some drum fills and arrangements in general, but future is wide like hell and time will let these guys evolve properly to release a really crushing full-length. A forthcoming release I will expect with curiosity.
| Tracklist |
| 1. Thresholds Of Insanity |
| 2. Dying Murmur |
| 3. Abyss Of Delirium |
| 4. Desolate |
| 5. Ethereal Dimensions |
| 6. Outro |
: 19.41
| Buy other Animus Mortis albums |
