This band, which seems to amount to one person, is from Cuba and this is black metal. “Monotony” is Shrine ov Absurd’s second album release.
I suppose an album called “Monotony” isn’t going to have colourful titles, and this doesn’t. A persistent, penetrating black metal riff runs through “I” while the man behind the band rasps fierily. This goes on for four or so minutes before we are plunged into a gloomy passage and a bit of narrative before it ramps up again. It’s intense but not exciting. “II” starts in a similar vein. It’s fast-paced, full of fire and menace but it’s not in any way innovative. The black metal if the melodic rather than the creepy sort, and sweeps us along with it. If I were to compare it to someone, it would be Old Man’s Child. Just as it isn’t going anywhere, “II” stops and “III” begins. The guitar has menace but the pattern is the same. The lyrics are suitably nihilistic, speaking of afflictions, sadness, virus and loss of hope. ”III” is forceful as it treads its venomous path and is imperious in its sound and structure, but it’s a remorseless journey to the mists of oblivion rather than a voyage of discovery. “IV” takes on a more despairing aspect, and instils a depth of gloom and ferocious atmospheric intensity which we hadn’t previously had. The blackened gloom runs into the narrative-laden “V”. There is melancholy in the perpetual darkness, but with the exception of the echoing spoken passage, which gives off a sinister air, it doesn’t change very much throughout its 7 minute course.
As black metal albums go, this is as solid as a rock and has all the spirit and atmosphere that you would expect of the genre. At the same it’s no ground-breaking and for me the fire was a musical experience rather than something which ran through my veins or inspired me.
(6.5/10 Andrew Doherty)
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