Genre: Black Metal
Label: Behemoth Productions
Line Up:
In 2013 the band released under Behemoth production / Masterpiece "Opus II: The Souls Proceeds", the successor of the debut "Opus I: The Khaos Hatefile" dated 2005; although several years elapse between the two albums, the last retains the cold and avant-garde approach, impressed by the leader of the band Amon 418 and by the drummer M.A.Fog (Black Flame). "The Souls Proceeds" is a journey into darkness, in which classic sounds typical of Nordic Black Metal are combined with more sophisticated solutions: a riffing that ranges between tremolo picking and open chords, palm muting on cadenced rhythms, and with a touch of Thrash-Death Metal, arpeggios that break everything while maintaining hypnotic linearity in the songs. The latter is given more by solutions such as walls of guitars in the background which, keeping a fixed note, cloak the compositions of a ritual aura, such as "Spiritual Death", "He" or "Hearts In Turmoil". Fog's excellent drumming, relentless and martial, makes the songs progress and helps to make the album rather fluid.
An acid and wicked screaming complete the sound, in which remarkable care stands out: the sounds of the instruments are excellent, balanced, distinguishable, but compact as a whole; one perceives the will to differentiate oneself in the composition while maintaining the roots in the more traditional Black Metal: the speeds, never spasmodic, favour a rhythmic and oppressive pace, a recurring feature in the 40 minutes of listening. References to Satyricon emerge (post Rebel Extravaganza) scattered throughout the release, also incredible the similarity in the tone of the sung with Satyr, particularly in "Among The Dead" and "Cosmos Violation". Opus II is ultimately a work of excellent quality from all points of view; we just have to wait for a sequel with an Opus III, which closes the circle of this interesting and valid project.
Andrea B.
