How can an album title like this one not create an air of intrigue? Indeed, among a sea of review invites this and the short accompanying blurb jumped right out at me almost saying “boo” in the process. This offering suggested it would take us down deep sylvan depths and be overflowing with full-forested mysticism and madness, presided over by a couple of deranged nutcases. In this case our fringe-elements are German fruitcakes Wodwoz and The Vessel. Their recording output started relatively recently in 2021 with the precursor to this in demo form ‘I: Cutting Wood for Magickal Purposes.’ Perhaps they had hidden themselves away in isolation to escape the ravages of a certain virus spreading throughout the more built up areas. Perhaps they just wanted to live off the bounties of the land and embrace olden traditions whilst embarking on a shamanistic world of discovery. Maybe they just like gobbling up all the hallucinogenic fungi they can lay the hands on! Whatever the case they are not the only exponents of heretical heritage and warlock and witchy like behaviour within the realms of blackest metal (think everything from Beherit to early Opera IX) but there’s always room for more especially with the demise of principal voice among the trees Shamaatae from Arckanum. Let’s just dip in and see where we end up… best leave a trail of breadcrumbs.

Upon ‘Entering Forest Twylite’ to a quiet synth line and naturistic sounds the musicians eek out doomy lines as they prepare to take us on their journey. Spoken vocals chant before the ritual begins and we are propelled into a black thrashing tumult along with a wild cavalcade of cackles and oratory lunacy. Yep this pair are as barking as suspected and vocally they constantly shapeshift adding rich storytelling traditions amidst growl and rasps along with a musical canvas that takes in facets of epic heavy metal, psychedelic turmoil and a bit of everything in between. Whatever they have summoned via ‘Skeins of Demented Magick’ the spirit of the Green Man (or whatever the German equivalent is) seem to be all over this. By the time we get a lesson in ‘Tree Transvection’ I have to wonder if in the real world our players have a grounding in ecology or botany as much as anything else. They certainly sound knowledgeable but it is only when we get to the fifth track and embark on an ‘Arboreal Portal Ritual’ that lyrics are unearthed in English and prime ingredients are listed. “Valerian and fat of pig, Chamomile flowers fresh from twig. Skullcap herb and lemon balm, Cinquefoil leaves, all wild and warm.” You are advised to concoct potions at own risk.

Meanwhile on the base alchemy of tried and tested Absu-centric black thrash we get sprinklings of introductory folk, stomping melody lines, ambient interludes, doom-laden desertion, proto-metal guitar peels and full galloping fury. Both music and differing vocal approaches never stand still for a second and the suggestion is that a mother-load of fly agaric have been imbibed. When we get down to the very roots of the album it occurs that although no doubt serious in lyrical exposition and crazy in musical format this is both incredibly zealous and with it a lot of fun. You simply cannot help grinning like a Bavarian cat as things unfold and wonderland reveals itself. One things for sure, it will definitely leave you feeling suitably mystified as well as dragged through the trees by the time we get to the spirit of the forest and ‘Lysovik – Midnight Conjuring at the Crossroads.’ Are souls sold and is ‘The Witch’ who appears as a bonus track (originally magicked up by The Rattles circa 1970 pop-pickers) going to spoil our duo’s merriment? Well I guess you are going to have find out for yourself. As some fat boar has apparently scoffed all my breadcrumbs perhaps you can show me the way out when you do. Frankly I am completely bastard lost…

(7.5/10 Pete Woods)

https://boarhammernp.bandcamp.com/album/ii-chemognosis-a-shortcut-to-mushrooms