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Dødheimsgard‘s Black Medium Present is a portal to a different universe. There are such a lot of excellent creators within the style. But, I actually maintain the opinion that DHG‘s co-founder “Vicotnik,” Yusaf Parvez, is among the motion’s best artists.
Though Dødheimsgard has been a revolving door of musicians through the years, Vicotnik clearly has the appropriate crew of dependable males round him at current. The maestro is at the moment joined by three unimaginable skills: Lars Emil Måløy of If Nothing Is; “Tommy Weapons,” or Tommy Thunberg, of Kirkebrann; and Øyvind Myrvoll — Vicotnik‘s companion in crime in Dold Vorde Ens Navn and a collaborator of Mayhem‘s Teloch in Nidingr.
Black Medium Present is an intensely private work that requires an open thoughts. That is not tough as a result of the album’s radical honesty is definitely disarming, although there are moments of seductive guile and playfulness. One of many the explanation why Black Medium Present is so rewarding is as a result of it is a very “giving” providing. It holds your hand with paternal warmness and sagacity — not precisely your norm in relation to black steel.
Black Medium Present provides you the unnerving but exhilarating sensation of being swallowed by a black gap. It permits you to look squarely into the abyss, with which it converses. Though a confrontation with the abyss is each a hazard and a blessing, one useful facet is that this album demonstrates the which means of creation from the void. It opens up new areas, which it shortly fills and likewise empties.
From the darkish backdrop, every kind of variegated shape-shifting pictures come up with the brightness of supernovae. As a result of it shines with all colours of the rainbow, this planetarium of an album generally turns into the sonic equal of white gentle. The compositions impart the sensations of floating in outer house, swimming with the bioluminescent creatures of the deep sea, crawling amidst the lushness of the rainforest, strolling by way of the imperial buildings of the town, and so forth. Every part about Black Medium Present feels larger-than-life, larger-than-death.
This album is a journey that simply must be skilled and always re-experienced firsthand. Regardless of the album’s extra trendy and futuristic points, we hear riffs that generally place us on the coronary heart of the ’90s. Retro vibes creep in at occasions as properly. This works properly to extend the concord and dissonance between the current, previous, and future.
The songwriting is pure genius. Every instrument is used brilliantly. Along with the same old suspects, Black Medium Present options cello, theremin, piano, and flute. Electronics are integrated in a masterful method that provides texture and ceaselessly enhances the glittering intergalactic really feel. You may assume {that a} black steel providing would lose a few of its integrity and turn into a bit synthetic because of the mixture of such various parts, but it surely stays purely natural, palpable, alive.
You by no means know the place the present of this magnum opus will lead. Songs can change fully and on the drop of a dime, but that is completed with grace. The fascinating factor is that you simply at all times know when a track has ended, although their internal threads could not at all times be perceptible to motive. Black Medium Present options principally lengthy compositions, the lengthiest of which is sort of 11 minutes.
DHG‘s different vocalists have been distinctive previously: once more, Aldrahn; Kvohst; and sure — we have even heard some extra vocals by Fenriz in addition to lead vocals on a few tracks by Apollyon. However, the soiled reality is that I used to be actually pleased that Vicotnik dealt with the vocals this time round. Vicotnik has a finesse and theatrical aptitude that place him on a degree above even the best thespians. Along with making selections which are good from an analytical perspective, his performances seep into the darkest corners of your soul and assist you to really feel intensely linked to the music! His vocals on Black Medium Present are heartful perfection.
In the course of the course of the album, Vicotnik adopts quite a lot of vocal approaches and sometimes provides you the impression that he has morphed into another person. The layers make you’re feeling like you might be seeing doubles, triples, roomfuls of Vicotiniks. He forces you to remain within the second: A syllable or sound can start in a manner that evokes one emotion, perhaps pleasure tinged with amusement, and fully rework, as an instance into emotions of despair or vacancy.
The Norwegian language all through Black Medium Present engenders a particular intimacy and sense of environment. Nevertheless, when English first seems on the third observe, “Interstellar Nexus,” it pops off the canvas of the music in a very daring manner. The album has a superhero really feel at occasions that the English language actually enhances. Black Medium Present‘s mixture of Norwegian and English is acceptable for a philosophical report insofar because it constructs a bridge between the actual and the common.
Black Medium Present represents black steel at a excessive stage of evolution and a return to the primordial waters of chaos from which the motion arose. In the course of the first track, “Et smelter,” Vicotnik mentions Dronningens gate, or “Queen’s Road,” twice. Dronningens gate was an essential assembly place for members of the scene. On the final observe, “Requiem Aeternum,” we hear: “The king is lifeless.” This might presumably be a reference to Dødheimsgard‘s first album, Kronet til konge (1995), “Topped to be King.” In any case, we really feel that some noble passage has taken place, which is sensible as a result of Vicotnik is the phoenix who retains rising with a view to shock us with new creative triumphs.
Black Medium Present is a vital album that speaks to the truth that we’re eternally touring homeward “in defeat” to Dødheimsgard.
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