These songs should be viewed as one changing wall of sound rather than as tracks constrained by the anticipation of conventional structures. However, although there is less emphasis on the individual elements and instruments, there is sill distinct variety within the songs, and the guitars are played intelligently in that they use acoustic, folk-influenced passages as well as some musing soloing, which lays a bit of identity over this ‘wall of sound’ that is created. The drums as well could easily get monotonous and boring within this style, but not on this album, as there is surprising variety in the rhythms and beats played. The body of each song is still the flowing notes of the rhythm guitar, but these other aspects add character to each track. I feel that some of the tracks achieve that state of hypnotising sound that they are aiming for more than others. Tracks like ‘The Price of Freedom’ are particularly successful in my opinion at summoning a really hypnotic flow of sound, while others I find a bit distracting with the vocals too prominent for the guitar melodies to really take hold. Overall though every track achieves some state of mesmerisation, which is what I personally look for in this style.

Like I said at the start, you need to be prepared for this approach to fully appreciate it, just like you need to be listening out for different things if you are going to enjoy a progressive metal album. Here a combination of the slow, shifting guitar with a Burzum-like distortion tone helps create this atmosphere, while the vocals add to this here and there, sometimes sounding more tortured. At other times I don’t really like the vocals, partly as I said because I think they are too loud and distract from the guitars, but also because at times I hear less emotion in them. Each element compliments the other though, to achieve this state which keeps the music captivating despite its long and brooding length. I think that when creating this type of very raw, outwardly primitive music there is a fine line between achieving this epic soundscape and producing something that is unoriginal and tiresome. I think that on this album the former has been accomplished, because I don’t find any of these songs dragging on or getting repetitive. In fact, this is not half as primitive as it could be, as it draws on elements of folk music in its acoustic sections (indeed, the closing track is a completely folk song), and some quite technical drum work.

Overall, this is exactly what I look for in a black metal release, and I think the combination of instruments and vocals has worked well to produce a set of songs that are deeper than they first seem, and strangely beautiful.

written by James Ashbey

Playing time: 43.44