
SOLEIL GRIS ARE CANCELLED ON THE TOUR!
REPLACEMENT ARE MOLOK.
GO ON CONCERT AND SEE ON EACH DAY FROM THIS TOUR MOLOK ON STAGE!
TOTAL SUPPORT!
Ah Ciliz piqued my attention for two reasons: a) it involves W. from the rather excellent Grimlair as a session musician on the first two tracks and b) it emerges on one of the most exciting underground Black Metal labels operating anywhere in the universe right now – Selbstmord Kommando Produktionen. From the get-go, this album – which comes in a DVD case and is limited to just one hundred very affordable units – had the potential to be something quite special; I’m glad to say ‘Reawakening Ancient Sorrow’ hasn’t disappointed.
After ambient four-minute opener ‘1533, The Fall of Tawantinsuyo’ disperses, ‘Oceans From My Veins’ pours through the speakers, awash with pain and melancholy, eight minutes of depressive, deeply anguished BM, executed in the lo-fi minimal style of early Hypothermia, flooding the senses, crushing the spirit with its sombre, morose intent, suffocating the listener in a blanket of inconsolable despair. The electrics are turned way down and what we are left with is almost acoustic, but not quite. The vocals are piercing, haunting, coruscating. Doom and gloom all the way, my friends.
‘Comatose’ is beautiful, atmospheric yet crushing, reminding me of a more subdued Drowning The Light perhaps, while ‘Fragil Serviente’ is as delicate, submissive and vulnerable as the title suggests, coming across like a Black Metal version of Cult of Luna. Fans of everything from Woods Of Desolation to Sigur Ros should find something here to enjoy. The dynamic in play right across the hour’s duration of this album (including two bonus tracks) is a joy to behold, the timing is perfect, the mood capturing a perfect balance between utter dejection and supreme rapture – two emotions that are of course parallel, separated by the thin lines of sanity and nothing else.
The fifth track, ‘Creators Of Time (Mayan Resurrection)’ could possibly be the highlight of a stellar collection, fluctuating between highs and lows, covering many moods, working on the subconscious mind in a manner that most music can’t come close to. But there’s no let-up: ‘Ancient Mayan Sorcery’ is both hypnotic and aggressive, surprisingly violent in light of its passive opening, exploding like a torrent of rage, demonstrating that this hitherto unheralded American is a gifted individual blessing the underground with his presence.
Suffice to say, ‘Reawakening Ancient Sorrow’ is all killer, no filler (even though the bonus tracks are rougher and rawer than their predecessors, lending them a more spectral aura). There are many peaks to be experienced on this CD, but no troughs. If you want some depressive, ambient Black Metal that is more likely to blow your socks off than turn you gay, then this is one you need to hear.
Evilometer: 555/666
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‘Müde’ contains three lengthy depressive Black Metal lamentations (averaging around ten minutes) and a calming, melodic three-minute closer, ‘Lacrimae Desperationis’. I know a lot of people don’t care much for depressive BM (and I can appreciate why) but I have a soft spot for it and I really like this cassette. All in all, it’s pretty standard fare – on a par with what you’d get from a Self Mutilation Services release, for example – but very well composed, arranged and delivered. The production is excellent, too, so the tape has a professional CD sound to it (assuming you own a decent stereo). The label has loaded the music onto a nice red tape and wrapped it all up in a tasty lay-out, so no complaints in the quality control department.
The first song ‘Nirgends’ sets the tone and it’s clear straight away where exactly we’re going. Bands like All Of The Cold, Happy Days and Deep-pression spring immediately to mind, with perhaps a hint of Hypothermia and Trist. The singer sounds like he has decided to cut his throat with that shiny new razor blade, rather than his wrist, and the sense of suffering and anguish being emitted from the music is too stark to be fake. Of course, this subgenre of the subgenre always risks venturing into surreal, OTT terrain but generally Introversion manages to maintain an acceptably sincere and convincing face.
‘Zerbrechende Rosen’ is slower than its predecessor, more laboured, more tormented, coming across like a really sick version of early Anathema – sad, sorrowful and without hope but also raw and relevant. The wonderful ‘Impuls??’ boasts some nice piano parts that call to mind Shining, still with touches of early Anathema ran through a depressive blender. By the time the album / demo is finished, you should feel pacified (and satisfied that your money has been well spent).
In a nutshell, ‘Müde’ is an entertaining excursion into typical depressive Black Metal territory. It’s not offering anything particularly new, but the compositional skills and musicianship are top notch, making for an enjoyable release (in so far as this bleak style of music can ever be termed enjoyable). The songs – mostly mid- to slower-paced, melodic and atmospheric Black Metal – manage to sound calming and disturbing at the same time and there’s every reason to suspect that Introversion can build on this sonic delight and develop on future releases. I suppose at the end of the day, you either like depressive BM or you don’t. If you do appreciate it, then this is one of the most solid demos I’ve heard recently. If not, have a nice day.
Evilometer: 444/666
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