Pestilential Shadows have been hammering along since 2003 leaving six quality albums in their wake. The band are apparently part of something called Ordo Ater Anguis (also known as Order of the Black Serpent), a circle of like-minded “satanic” musicians established in the noughties. Having maintained a somewhat steady line-up since 2013, “Revenant” is the second album from this current incarnation of the band following 2014s “Ephemeral”.
The flavour of black metal composed by Pestilential Shadows treads a fine line between the classic riff driven melodicism of Dissection, and the brutal atmospherics of latter day Drudkh, though is not a carbon copy of either and stands tall in its own right.
“Procession Of Souls” breaks us in nicely with pummelling tom-toms and a moody intro. There’s a great break in the middle of the song, with an icy, tremolo picked melody underpinned by a restrained tribal-esque drumbeat, before the band unleash their reflective chaos once more. “Hunter and Reaper” starts slow and brooding with the song primarily driven by the pulsating bass guitar, before double time feel drums carry us through to a folky melodic section. The song changes pace constantly, keeping it interesting for even the most casual of listeners.
The rest of the album varies in tone and tempo, though at its core remains fundamentally riff driven. The soaring guitars and anguished howls of “Twilight Congregation” portray crushing despair, teetering precariously on the outer fringes of DSBM, whilst both “The Sword Of Damocles” and “Beneath The Dying Stars” take few prisoners with their passages of unrelenting snare drum poundage.
Coursing throughout “Revenant” is a sense of melody and atmosphere that compliments the raging percussion and icy guitars. There are subtle synths sprinkled sparingly amongst the songs, which succeed in enhancing rather than overwhelming the listening experience.
“Revenant” is a morbid display of sharp songwriting that embraces the traditional tropes of black metal, and envelopes them with an epic, glistening production that’s as grandiose as it is gritty.
(7.5/10 Doogz)
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