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 definitely maintain the opinion that DHG‘s co-founder “Vicotnik,” Yusaf Parvez, is among the motion’s biggest artists.
Though Dødheimsgard has been a revolving door of musicians over time, Vicotnik clearly has the fitting crew of dependable males round him at current. The maestro is at present joined by three unimaginable abilities: 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 troublesome 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 with regards to black steel.
Black Medium Present provides you the unnerving but exhilarating sensation of being swallowed by a black gap. It lets you look squarely into the abyss, with which it converses. Though a confrontation with the abyss is each a hazard and a blessing, one helpful facet is that this album demonstrates the which means of creation from the void. It opens up new areas, which it rapidly fills and in addition empties.
From the darkish backdrop, all types of variegated shape-shifting photographs 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 mild. The compositions impart the sensations of floating in outer area, swimming with the bioluminescent creatures of the deep sea, crawling amidst the lushness of the rainforest, strolling by the imperial buildings of the town, and so on. All the things about Black Medium Present feels larger-than-life, larger-than-death.
This album is a journey that simply must be skilled and consistently re-experienced firsthand. Regardless of the album’s extra trendy and futuristic elements, we hear riffs that generally place us on the coronary heart of the ’90s. Retro vibes creep in at instances as nicely. 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 included in a masterful method that provides texture and continuously enhances the glittering intergalactic really feel. You would possibly assume {that a} black steel providing would lose a few of its integrity and grow to be a bit synthetic because of the mixture of such diversified components, 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 achieved with grace. The fascinating factor is that you simply all the time know when a music has ended, although their interior threads might not all the time be perceptible to purpose. Black Medium Present options largely lengthy compositions, the lengthiest of which is sort of 11 minutes.
DHG‘s different vocalists have been distinctive up to now: 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. Nonetheless, the soiled reality is that I used to be actually blissful 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 decisions which might be good from an analytical perspective, his performances seep into the darkest corners of your soul and can help you really feel intensely linked to the music! His vocals on Black Medium Present are heartful perfection.
Through the course of the album, Vicotnik adopts a wide range of vocal approaches and sometimes provides you the impression that he has morphed into another person. The layers make you’re feeling like you’re seeing doubles, triples, roomfuls of Vicotiniks. He forces you to remain within the second: A syllable or sound can start in a approach that evokes one emotion, perhaps pleasure tinged with amusement, and fully remodel, as an instance into emotions of despair or vacancy.
The Norwegian language all through Black Medium Present engenders a particular intimacy and sense of ambiance. Nonetheless, when English first seems on the third monitor, “Interstellar Nexus,” it pops off the canvas of the music in an awfully daring approach. The album has a superhero really feel at instances that the English language definitely 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. Through the first music, “Et smelter,” Vicotnik mentions Dronningens gate, or “Queen’s Avenue,” twice. Dronningens gate was an vital assembly place for members of the scene. On the final monitor, “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 smart as a result of Vicotnik is the phoenix who retains rising so as 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.
