Everything about this release screams old school atmospheric black metal from the logo through the album art and the obligatory black and white promo photo taken in a forest. The only thing really missing is snow, but these guys are from Hungary and not Scandinavia, so perhaps that is why. Formed in 2020, what we have here is a duo of Zoltán Szele (instruments) and Roland Neubauer (vocals), and together they have produced a very polished release indeed. Somewhat unusually for the genre, this is a concept album containing 7 songs at nearly 50 minutes, and the subject matter is somewhat different in that all the lyrics are about different aspects of suicide. Musically they have obviously been influenced by the latter part of the Nineties’ Black Metal scene, in a similar vein as old Dimmu Borgir, And Oceans or Catamenia.

Overall this is a great release, with highly effective additional nuances and styles, from quieter sections through the use of keyboards and violin, which allows for wonderful dynamics and contrasts. There are times when it almost feels as if the band are looking for a “lite” version of the genre before coming back at full bore. Something which is somewhat unusual is the bass in that it feels at times as if Zoltán is being far more deliberate than someone who is a natural bassist. I can’t put my finger on what it is that makes me feel this way, but the note selection seems somewhat deliberate as opposed to flowing, which makes it stand out somewhat. That to one side, this is an incredibly enjoyable release with a far more diverse approach than many, combined with strong vocals which ensures this will be of interest to all those who enjoy this genre as it certainly stands out among many.

Rating: 7/10

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https://www.facebook.com/filosofemrecords/