Wow, I haven't been keeping up with Deathspell Omega. I was lucky to end up with a promo copy of the Kénôse EP from 2005 and I've been hooked on Deathspell Omega ever since. Fas- Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternum is supposedly the second installment in a trilogy - Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice being part one - and it marks further progression and experimentation for France's most distinctive and mysterious black metal band.
Deathspell Omega has quite a knack for convincingly bringing experimentation into black metal. The song structures, dynamics, rhythms, and chord progressions the band chooses are very much off the beaten path, but not so much that the result isn't recognizable as black metal. In fact, this album is everything a black metal album should be and more.
It didn't take me long to figure out this album is by far the most ambitious release Deathspell Omega has churned out yet . Just as I had never heard a black metal album quite like Kénôse, the same is true about this new album tenfold. The album features some of Deathspell Omega's fastest, most spastic moments to date and some of their slowest, most brooding and atmospheric moments too, which almost veer into post-rock/shoegaze territory. In fact, Fas- Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternum seems to have the peak-and-valley dynamics of post-rock in some places (with some abrupt tempo changes as well), an interesting progression from the more linear approach of Kénôse. The band also utilizes Gregorian-style chanting, orchestral instruments, and ambient passages much more expansively than on Kénôse - and to great effect I might add. The atmosphere of the album is absolutely spine-tingling. There is this incredible sense of spaciousness that many bands attempt but few perfect. These songs, especially the quiet parts, in my mind would fit perfectly on the soundtrack to films like The Exorcist or The Omen.
All this is done with Deathspell Omega's signature raw-yet-clear production style. All the instruments have a very organic feel to them and, just as importantly, cut their own niche in the overall mix. In particular, I love the vicious midrange the guitars have. The drums are the loudest and most up-front they've ever been on a Deathspell Omega release, and brutal as hell to boot.
The bottom line is that there are very few bands in the black metal community producing music this profound and inventive. If you believe in such a thing as prog black metal, Deathspell Omega would be at the forefront of the movement. This album couples brilliant musicianship ranging from understated and atmospheric to absurdly chaotic and technical (without ever becoming wankery) with captivating lyrics delivered in truly unique, menacing way. I'm not sure how the hardline black metal purists react to albums like this one, but I think people afraid of some experimentation in the genre are missing out. There are few bands that can pull off such great atmosphere and virtuosity at the same time. I can definitely see this being in my top five for this year.
Lastly, do yourself a favor and listen to this album with headphones (or on vinyl) alone late at night. To fully appreciate the ritualistic nature of the music, as well as its nuances, it demands your full attention. This isn't background music; it's a savage, isolationist assault on the senses.
