ALBUM REVIEW: Black Cilice – Transfixion Of Spirits

Here I review the new album of occult Raw Black Metal legends BLACK CILICE, a band whom have made a huge name for themselves in the underground scene, offering up a new conjuration of dark delights. Set for release via Iron Bonehead Productions on September 6th.

The album draws in with raw and atmospheric dissonance from the guitars, smashing drum attacks and eerie rasped vocals penetrating through the waves of disdain. The ferocity and misanthropic sound of the music is beautifully aggressive yet balanced with a loathing melancholy, there is certainly no lack of emotion in this high octane barrage of truly painstaking Black Metal extremity, which I mean in the most positive way. Depravity encapsulates the foreboding cascade of darkened musicianship and unholy howls making for a captivating experience with the morbid soundscapes being portrayed gorgeously with a raw production style that does not compress any of the piercing ugliness of true Black Metal. Convulsive melodies and vomited screams tie in the blasting drum hammering to make for a punishingly heavy listen that has dense layers of static riff warfare, truly impeccable. The depressive ambience and droning bass cuts through from time to time to give a more introspective feel to the music, accompanied by harrowing screeches before we are taken through more waves of aggressive tremolo picked dissonance and blastbeats. The uniquely varied approach to this raw Black Metal onslaught taking some doomy twists and deathly bludgeoning impact really entwines with your mind, making escape from the blisteringly artful music impossible. This is a fine example of how pure, raw and unrelenting Black Metal can be while remaining creative, original and tasteful. The sublime melancholy and daunting aggression of this album will haunt you with its chilling approach of powerful atmospherics and intimidating assaults clasped in waves of impenetrable sound. Wonderfully done, a superb addition to BLACK CILICE’s immense discography. -8.5/10