I have been lucky and privileged to have reviewed the Wesenwille discography in some form or another and also to receive some exceptional digipak CDs on which to base them and this third chapter from this Dutch band continues the seemingly endless creative guile that head guy Ruben Schmidt has. Each of the bands preceding albums have been saturated in post-black morosity tempered by soul withering power as this latest effort begins with the epic ‘Revelation Of The Construct’. Like a lot of bands in this genre there is massive amounts of atmosphere and here is no different, as the eeriness of the guitar work channels you into the Wesenwille world of despondency. The opener has an intimidating aura too, gradual increases in intensity are balanced by the blasted forays that materialise from nowhere as the tune has embedded ominousness I really like on all their releases.
‘Transformation’ is up next and is much shorter, but no less packed with ideas as the vitriolic charm marries up with a bleak, foreboding and shadowy ethos alongside the hostile vocal onslaught that is entirely caustic as expected. ‘The Legacy Of Giants’ continues and sees the duration increase again unfurling a distorted guitar nuance and horrifying vocal tone as the blackened doom like soundscaping is desolate and stricken with anguish crafted by those vocals but also the snaking guitar work with its layering menace. Again we get that ever increasing tension the band loves to create before dropping the tune into a short isolated and bereft guitar piece. As predicted the song firmly reasserts and where I was expecting a blasted segment to appear instead I got a misery filled piece with lone tortured vocals, cymbal taps and a dread filled atmosphere.
‘Trinity’ is excellent, short, pithy and possessing a cold glacial tone, its riffing ice shards pierce the mix superbly conjuring meandering malevolence with terror stricken vocals and a slow pervasive doom pacing that leads neatly into ‘Our Sole Illuminator’ and nine minutes of uncontaminated horror. The secluded guitar work serves to focus the songs sorrowful opening only for it to be obliterated with the ferocious and frenzied blast that ensues. There is a magisterial tone to this track, a sort of epic enshrouding lavishness that is captivating as the songs poignancy is revealed when it slows down. The lingering string work adds another layer of charisma, doleful and haunting the song has a torturous aura, saturated in grief and distress.
‘Eclipse’ and ‘The Specular Gaze’ are the closers with the former being an elongated interlude or even the intro piece to the latter so closely do I feel they knit together. ‘Eclipse’ is a lovely piece of music, its sombre nature has an inherent catchiness too that flows into the closer. The riff here is very addictive and suggests a band that likes old doom-death especially with the mournful guitar hook that is sprinkled atop to great effect. Being slower and more pervading the post-black tendrils thread through beautifully before the blast beat appears with devastating efficacy. I absolutely love this closing track it is crammed with ideas as the song swerves smoothly into slower realms with heart breaking sadness alongside the acidic vocals. As the concluding two minutes are upon you the song adds some double kick to the mix, ramping up the intensity as the vocals roar and screech with throaty howls making the closer superb indeed.
There are no bounds to Wesenwille’s song writing craft, this album is outright superb making you wonder where on earth the band will go next, but I know for certain whatever it is, it will be brilliant just like this album.
(9.5/10 Martin Harris)
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