I was lucky, even grateful, to catch this Belgian act the Graspop Metal Meeting in 2017, even if my travelling companions didn’t seem that impressed with the band whilst watching them. Their atmospheric brilliance was staggering to watch so getting their fifth full length for review filled me with great anticipation. The bands discography is filled with albums that are packed with songs that are a statement of their unending creative ability.

However, it is five years since ‘The Pulse Of Mourning’ and the Belgians give us seven new epic tracks that cover the basic concept of depression and the journey that this toxic and truly destroying disease has on a person. Ever the bold ‘In-Balance’ opens the album with a ten minute expansive atmospheric track that starts with ambient guitar work that steadily intensifies. There is a definite progressive angle to this album that has always been evident on Thurisaz albums expounded by the lavish keyboard additions that add that layer of depth and texture to the songs that make everything so much more involved. There are comparisons to modern day Enslaved, especially vocally where the harsh vocalisations create that snarling environment on which the more mellow phases feel so much more fluidised when the harmonised cleaner vocals join in.

Smoothly into ‘The Veil’ the melancholy here is enriched by those keyboard adornments that really come to the fore right before the song unloads a double kick thrust that is densely dramatic as a choral vocal backing is lightly added to the mix to great effect. The whispered vocal is sublimely integrated too as the song continues to expand with bereft splendour. I thoroughly enjoyed the atmospherics in ‘Monologue’ which are hugely enhanced by the keyboards and clean vocals that really are superb throughout. The double kick rhythm adds its own quotient of melody as the deeper vocals pack a punch to the tracks overriding despondent saturation.

In my own interpretation the album seems to splice slightly in the latter half with calmer music generally and a plunge into more solemnity when ‘Exemption’ airs its soft gentile acoustic guitar work. The wispy vocals thread through sorrowfully, eerily and hauntingly allowing the music drift hazily in the background like a 70s prog track but ever so beautifully as the song majestically lunges forwards with the keyboards. The morosity continues with ‘Isle Of No-Man’ where the depths of despair are fully manifest in a funereal like quality utilising the keyboards in a doleful manner that is utterly heart wrenching as the vocals drizzle in. As the song evolves there is a slight uplift in mood as the metal comes with a clean vocal harmony that drifts through the mix. The songs escalating heaviness has a doom death quality especially with the addition of the double bass that is affixed towards the end of this astonishing track.

Closing this exceptional album is ‘Eternity Expires…’ which continues the mournfulness which is only to be expected considering the concept as the song returns to the heavier side of the song writing by increasing the guitar work but still allowing the keyboards to saturate the song for mood. The atmosphere has a slight uplift, an almost airy like feel, to it as the pace is increased somewhat compared to the preceding compositions,

If you’re new to Thurisaz then this is a perfect album to immerse yourself in, passionate and progressive, ambitious and evocative this is an inspirational set of songs.

(9/10 Martin Harris)

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