This French duo have garnered much acclaim for their earlier efforts, this being their third album. “Cosmogonie” is a lengthy opus of progressive blackened death metal that runs over the manufacturing restrictions of a single CD; physical releases will be double CD and triple LP packages. Sonically, Dysylumn appear to take cues from Icelandic contemporaries such as Misþyrming and Sinmara without directly aping them.
The listener is presented with three distinct chapters; “Apparition”, “Dispersion” and “Extinction”. Each of these movements consist of three numbered pieces, with the first two movements segueing into each other as if the six tracks are separate parts of a single disharmonious overture. An ominous “Interlude” provides a form of respite with its sinister atmosphere of vast emptiness, before Extinction brings us three more tracks of progressive, harrowing, doomy black metal.
The vocals range from cavernous roars to anguished shouts, often within the same track. Razor sharp tremolo-picked guitar riffs contrast with dissonant, deftly plucked, higher register melodies, whilst the drums and bass complement each other with an effortlessly organic sounding rhythm section, showcasing a variety of tempos that serve the songs well. The album is bookended by an “Intro” and “Outro” both consisting of the ambient noise similar to the “Interlude”, echoing the eery nothingness of the cosmos.
At a smidgen over 81 minutes, “Cosmogonie” is almost double the length of both previous albums. Ambitious yet tempered with intelligence, the duo never lose focus or seem outside of their comfort zone, providing yet another victory for French avantgarde black metal. If they continue along this trajectory, it’s likely that in years to come that Dysylumn will be discussed in the same revered tones as fellow countrymen Blut Aus Nord and Deathspell Omega.
(7.5/10 Doogz)
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