This is nice. Getting sent an actual (turquoise) cassette to review. A four song each split between two black metal one-man projects about whom I know nothing. Oh, and the neat, nicely designed insert also includes lyrics. So, hats off to Repose Records from the outset.
And yes, I have a cassette player…
Reign lead off. From the picture on the insert this looks pretty much orthodox one-man black metal in style. Not a criticism of course. A lovely old out of tune piano sound for ‘Fractured Blade’ sets an excellent eerie atmosphere. ‘A Breath Over The Mountain Pass’ has a hint of dsbm before it asserts itself. There’s a strong line of melody and well used keyboards to fill out the sound. Drums are prominent, vocals rasp out the lyrics of old pathways and a fierce nature pushes through. ‘Subjugating Dark’ is pretty much similar, but gentler. There’s a taste of early Fen and current Fellwarden hereabouts just more raw and with some nice off kilter melody. Rounding off with another instrumental piece Reign turn in a neat and very promising side. 6.5/10
Rulum from the picture again look more likely to inflict craft beer and Alcest on me. Half of which I can happily accept…I like good beer. And no sooner said, I get kicked in the nuts for my judgement on appearances. Apparently their first release though having been making music for themselves for 15 years, Rulum are… Well. The first sound that hits with ‘Hevel’ has that unsettling, almost dissonant melody of Arcturus, and their kinetic drive. Add in Burzum flavoured vocals and it certainly hits you from the off. It speeds swiftly into the dark with some tidy drumming and a fantastic riff. The vocals are excellent, varying between snarls, screams and intoned clean vocals. There’s a weird prog meets goth feel to the prominent bass in places, adding yet another layer to the sound. Wow. Ok. That is good. ‘Destination Unknown’ next is harsher, direct but again with some curious guitar work winding through the background. This is where the 70s prog/psyche raises its head. First the undulating bass begins to conjure it and then the layered clean vocals opens it out just as the black metal reclaims it. But only for a while as a lovely fluid guitar break takes us out into Pink Floyd’s ‘On The Run’ style breathless pace meets Hawkwind space and seamlessly drops back into the black metal currents. ‘Loss’ again flirts with Arcturus; the swirling intense sound, incredibly dextrous movement between instruments, between black metal and the darkly psyched. Oh lord is that a Hammond? And it works. Closer ‘Rul’ is so redolent of Burzum, Filosofem period. The open, melancholic keyboard sounds, slow guitar and absence of drumming, the feint trickle of water…and then diving deep into Rulum’s by now signature sound of 70s prog influenced lyrical black metal. Some glorious keyboards, the Hammond sound and the surging, pulsing rhythm. Just gorgeous.
Rulum’s familiarity with arrangement and layering is stunning, almost unbelievable for a debut. There’s a clear love of Burzum’s earlier sounds, the touch of Pink Floyd and King Crimson and Hawkwind, of the more maverick end of black metal like Arcturus. With lyrics seemingly at odds and full of disgust with aspects of modern life and herd mentality this has serious bite. Yeah frankly I’m gobsmacked. I need to hear more of Rulum. Much more. This is nothing short of fantastic. 9/10
(Overall 8/10 Gizmo)
https://www.facebook.com/rulumofficial
Tape and digital versions at https://reposerecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-occult
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