Apparently I completely overlooked the debut album from this reclusive outfit. In 2015 they released their debut full length, entitled (deep breath) ‘Tribute To Krzysztof Penderecki – Passion Et Mors Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Secundum Lucum’ which I guess I’m going to have to investigate as the snappier titled Missa Tridentina is, spoiler alert, a very intriguing album indeed.

Of Darkness are three people at present – Julkam, CG Santos and Bastard. Two also are in the legendary Teitanblood (CG Santos and Bastard), two in Graveyard (Julkam and Bastard) and all bring their talents together in this.. well ‘experimental funeral doom’ is the PR line and frankly for once I’m not inclined to disagree. It’s a good place to begin.

As is ‘Adjutorium Nostrum In Nomini Domini’. A ponderous pseudo classical organ and gong intro that raises the long shadow of legendary intellectual band Elend, which is suitably crushed by the first chord of ‘Requiem Aeternum’. This is glacial slow, cavernously heavy funeral doom stretched beyond sanity. Lead vocals call, perhaps in pain, and the choir intones the sound of impending despair in the background and just under seven minutes of tortured souls crawling over some abandoned level of hell follows. Discordant, eerie strings fill the void as the riff falls away until their ‘Dies Irae’ is revealed.

It is genuinely difficult to relate the feel of this. In parts the air of some inverted ritual of Catholicism, accentuated of course by the Latin, call back to Elend and even some of the classical strains but the doom is an unsettling sound. If Portal tried to turn The Axis Of Perdition’s ‘Urfe’ into funeral doom maybe? It’s a starting point, no more. Teitanblood themselves torturing Dead Can Dance ‘Spleen And Ideal through a slowed down Celtic Frost?

More its own beast entirely methinks. ‘Deus Qui Humanae Substantiae’ has those Celtic Frost kettle drums and riffs ominous approach in glorious darkness, the vocals like gravel rolling over black lava. ‘Eis Requiem, Eis Requiem Sempiternam’ turns a promise of eternal rest into a malevolent curse. ‘Requiescant In Pace’ seems like peace without comfort.

The titles all tie into Catholic liturgies, but when applied to the music that Of Darkness play they take on a bleak, cynical and baleful gaze. The melody contained in this album, such that it is, veers off kilter, drifting into eerie sequences and unsettling passages of haunted ambience and choral vocals. The monolithic tread of the riffs leaves me with visions of giant robed figures processing through some horrific stations of the cross whilst crushing the souls lining their way. Yes, I may be far from the intent but this is music that genuinely brings visions to me. It creates horrors in my mind and only allows me peace when it stills.

This is dark but irrefutably beautiful music. Strange, utterly focussed and crafted with power.

At first it may seem daunting but I suspect most fans of funeral doom will find it so seductive and so easy to slide down into its abyss. And once there you will find little reason to escape. Little hope, either.

Mesmeric.

(9/10 Gizmo)

https://www.facebook.com/ofdarknessrequiem

https://personal-records.bandcamp.com/album/missa-tridentina