I gave this Spanish act a high praising review back in 2018 for Ave Noctum, and was particularly enamoured by the hostility it waged, yet tinged with a desolation that fills you with dread. The question begging is whether multi-instrumentalist Phlegeton (Wormed, Banished From Inferno, plus a raft of other acts he’s involved in), can equal or even surpass the benchmark he laid down on said debut ‘Dialogues From Beyond’. The answer is a resounding yes, Phlegeton has exceeded all expectations, building on the foundations laid down by his debut to write seven malevolent tracks blended with a foreboding attitude.
The promo information has a piece by Phlegeton giving a rundown on what the listener should expect from the album, with a myriad of superlatives. The guy hits the nail on the head, his description hammers home the intent of this release with ‘Astral Construct’ kicking things off. The eerie, film like keyboard beginning sets the tone for what is to come. That sense of foreboding dread is evident from the off as the song blasts in smoothly utilising a huge cavernous vocal display the like of which you rarely hear, such is the depth of tone, including some light cleaner vocals.
An unerring sense of inhumanity pervades too as the awesome ‘Hidden Presence’ continues the assault, enveloping the listener in its wicked shroud that had me scribbling down acts like Anomalie and Regarde Les Hommes Tomber. Flowing in with depravity and oblique density is ‘Skulldrinker’, its slower pace enables that menacing atmosphere to bloom fully as the song embeds a terror-stricken anguish into its pernicious fabric. ‘Miserwolf’ continues the sky-high standards as the virtually seamless transition ensures momentum is reserved as the calming opening is alluring before the fantastic drilling riff bores in. The huge gradations in tension are palpable, every tangible nuance honing the tune to sonic perfection.
There is no subtlety to ‘Winter Eye’ the track blasts in with rabid enragement as the grating, scraping riff tears off the skin and brandishes a cool chant vocal line, something that appears on various tunes here and made me think about the original Batushka. Increasing the song duration is ‘Lymbo’ where an isolated guitar filters in with a sinister aura, building nicely with purpose as the song possesses an atmosphere of despondent rancour, entwined with a fine obliterating darkness that shadows the whole composition. Closer ‘Time Terror’ spans the eight-minute barrier, as those deep cavernous vocals ensure the song has gravity defying density, linked to quality riff breaks and excellent pace variations. Again, the chant vocals add their own level horror, as a droning riff pierces the tune in the last quarter, before dropping into an ambient phase that takes the song to its conclusion.
A stellar sophomore from Lifelost, teeming with creative craft, injected with passion but most importantly is crammed with scintillating black metal ferocity.
(9.5/10 Martin Harris)
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