I reviewed Biolume 2 for Ave Noctum. Biolume 3, on the other hand, is instantly more memorable and pleasing to the ears. It’s Midnight Odyssey returning, albeit reluctantly, to his astral black metal roots, and giving us a metaphorical middle finger for slagging off the previous two chapters of the saga.

The third chapter came out close to the end of 2023, and while I wanted to get my review in before the end of the year, it was impossible to do so and give it a proper listen – at 2 hours and 5 minutes it’s a bit of an undertaking to listen to it in full even once. I would know – I’ve listened to Biolume 3 over 10 times now. In retrospect, it should have been in my top 10 albums of 2023 – yet at the time of writing my list, it was nowhere near top 20. Anyway.

The difference between Biolume 2 and Biolume 3 is immediate and profound. The catchy dissonant guitars and the intelligent synths set Biolume 3 apart from the get go. The drumming is precise and calculated, and creative instrumentation is used to increase the atmosphere. Every single piece is a fully fleshed out epic, almost like a mini one-track album in itself. There are no pieces under 8 minutes (except for 2 transitory ambient tracks near the end). I have honestly never been this impressed with Midnight Odyssey, not even when I discovered Funerals from the Astral Sphere, all bleary-eyed and mind-boggled. It’s however impossible to review this album track by track – though someone should absolutely do this. It could turn into an intriguing essay. But me, I’d rather focus on the entire thing, as its mystery is only exceeded by its power.

In Biolume 3, Midnight Odyssey finally reaffirms his position as a sole titan within the astral black metal genre. To say that I did not expect Biolume 3 to be as good as it is, is an understatement. I was prepared for Mesarthim to do a 180⁰ in the opposite direction and do a Funerals-era Midnight Odyssey. I mean I’m sure Dis Pater couldn’t care less about titles and genre polemics. He has clearly shown this by putting out numerous ambient/dungeon synth releases despite the enormous side eye from fans. And while I generally don’t mind these albums, I have myself been blindsided by Funerals from the Astral Sphere and Shards of Silver Fade, ever hoping for a sequel. And ever yet, Biolume 3 isn’t one. It’s its own thing. It’s a perilous yet unexpectedly calm journey through the astral planes.

Now, Biolume 3 is a very catchy album. I often find myself humming the refrains to tracks one, As Darkness Dims the Fire and two, A Land That Only Death Knows. This epic reaches its crescendo in track nine, A Fullmoon Madness where oppressive synths and grandiose symphonies serve to build the track up into the most veritable reflection of its title l’ve ever come across. It’s almost visual kei-esque in its composition and I love it to bits. Final piece, Luna, always puts a smile on my face. I only just realised this – at the very moment of writing this sentence.

Don’t sleep on this album. Use it to wake up instead.

(9/10 The Flâneur)

https://www.facebook.com/midnightodyssey

https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/biolume-part-3-a-fullmoon-madness