Since I first heard Bal-Sagoth I’ve been into Symphonic Extreme Metal. Particularly the more ridiculous side of it. Big over the top Power Metal style orchestration laying about with harsh vocals and goblin-like silliness has always appealed to me. In recent years I’ve found myself enjoying it even more especially when combined with Dungeon Synth or some other nerd music. Basically, it’s now something I get very excited about.

Once such band who aim to bring the big classical sound are Esoctrilihum. Now, they have been covered here on Ave since their first album Mystic Echo From A Funeral Dimension and I’ve reviewed a good chunk of their albums including the bar setting Pandaemorthium (Forbidden Formulas To Awaken The Blind Sovereigns Of Nothingness). I pretty much fell out of favour with them after The Telluric Ashes Of The Ö Vrth Immemorial Gods but thought I’d give them another go. As such we come to their sixth full length release coming through I, Voidhanger Records, the equally long titled Dy’th Requiem For The Serpent Telepath, have the band got any better?

Ezkikur opens up the album with cosmic, Melodic Black Metal bliss. It’s epic and hard hitting, just what one would expect from Esoctrilihum. The haunting Black Metal vocals then come in to complete this Extreme Metal package. The more Symphonic edge shines in Salhn to add further mystical intrigue to this massive sounding release. There really isn’t all that much more to it really, most songs are pretty long, very heavy and all-round epic. I do find it rather strange just how peaceful it is though. I find the tone almost hypnotic and repetitive but not in a bad way. If you’re less into ethereal music though this could get dull pretty quick.

The second half of the album kicks off with Dy’th. This is a pretty aggressive track, one which I would say leans heavily on a Death Metal influence. Notions of Death Metal are already present in the vocals but the instrumentation here is especially savage. Craânag is also a great and much needed track, an interlude of sorts, almost Dungeon Synth or Dark Ambient. I’m a fan of that kind of music anyway and this was just what the album was crying out for. The remainder of the album throws things into more barbarity, but not once is it drab. The closing track Hjh’at is massive, and almost Post-Rock in delivery, it’s an exceptional ending to what is no doubt going to be a heavy hitter for 2021.

So I’ve often been mixed about Esoctrilihum, in fact I’ve found myself less interested in more recent years. This album however has changed all of that and reaffirmed my love for the band. Essentially, I would call this serious Symphonic Blackened Death Metal (I know what a snob). It has all the makings of a comical nerdy release but with added power and might that elevates the genre to something more musically accomplished (at least in a beard stroking sense). I’d have to say that it’s also my favourite work of theirs to date. Is it a bit long? Maybe, but it is very strong.

(8/10 George Caley)

https://www.facebook.com/Esoctrilihum-305266723253656

https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/dyth-requiem-for-the-serpent-telepath