ALBUM REVIEW: Calyx – Los Negros Vapores De La Bilis

Spanish ancient Black Metal cult CALYX are back with a new full length album, out now.

Instantly the archaic darkness enshrouding the record is abundantly obvious. Rumbling bass lines and mystical guitars twist around primal drumming and vocal incantations to give a genuinely evil sound with its necrotic production value assisting this. The previous album had a much cleaner sound with more melodic use, whereas we can instantly hear a more demo-esque quality to the recording, though the music is still perfectly audible. This may put some off, but underground lurkers and crypt dwellers will soon become enchanted by the mysterious maliciousness of the new album with its tastefully cold riffing and demonic atmospherics that fill the air with sepulchral cascades of eeriness beautifully. The foreboding nature of their songwriting and the hostility of the overall presentation certainly sets a potent and harsh tone of what is to come.

Comparatively to its predecessor (which remains one of my favourite Black Metal records of recent years), there is still that gloriously medieval feeling of mystique to the melodies, especially on the guitars. This conjures up images of stoney battlements and blood-frenzied battles fought with iron weaponry. Combining with the visceral blasting drums and unpolished mix, there is no denying this makes for an extremely intense listen that focuses in on the necessary elements and simply discards all else. Occasional synths subtly add bursts of flavour but in a very minimalist manner that doesn’t weaken the percussive blows, savage string-beatings of hellish vocal execution. Additionally, there is a bit of weirdness on the guitars in the form of dissonant riffs that feels a bit more contemporary in contrast to their more ancient sound, but it does work really nicely due to the raw and frantic energy of the record.

To say every take is perfect would be a lie, there are these swaying and sometimes clumsy moments that lend a real genuine character to the more first-wave Black Metal leanings of Calyx. To me, this actually accentuates what the band is going for really well, which seems to be their most honest recording to date in terms of stripping away anything but the very core of their art. I think “Vientos Arcaicos” is a more full body of work, but “Los Negros Vapores De La Bilis” has a huge amount of merit in a different fashion. To focus on the present, we hear some superb developments of catacomb-lurking tracks that chill to the bone with their intimidating, vicious and bewitching brand of sorcery. A shorter record, at under forty minutes, that much like in many other facets seems to cut to the chase in giving us demoniac force in musical form. This is truly diabolical, in the best possible way.

A very different beast to “Vientos Arcaicos”, yet no less worthy. Continuing in their ancient and mystical pathway of dungeons, witches and sorcery, Calyx give us a much more straightforward and unfiltered but equally menacing sounding record. As a pair, this always feels more like a prequel to its predecessor, perhaps due to its rawer sound. But either way, both are shining gems of Black Metal that holds true value and a black flame burning brighter than most. Allow “The Black Vapours Of Bile” (title translation) to fill your lungs with spellbinding witchcraft and secretive tales of the occult.