ALBUM REVIEW: Blut Aus Nord – Ethereal Horizons

France’s unusual black metal esotericists Blut Aus Nord are back with their 16th studio album. Set for release via Debemur Morti Productions on November 28th.

Ethereal guitars instantly deliver on the promises made by the title. A reverberate soundscape like an ocean of strings to ease us into whatever Vindsval and co have in store for us. Scathing blast beats and tremolo picking soon cascade forth, still stunning but with a heightened aggression. This is felt to its fullest when the shrill vocals pierce the instrumental mix. Those floating sections that were so beautiful on the last couple of records are present once more, this time with post-punk style vocals adding another element of haunting flair to proceedings. The converging elements flow seamlessly and with a renewed quality while undeniably sounding like Blut Aus Nord. Surging from the serene to the complex layers of darkness, the ebb and flow of this album is clearly going to be very fluid and varied. Each transcendental melody takes you further into this celestial escape while keeping things rooted to earth with strong percussion and even some more grooves than one might expect from the band. The horizons may lurk in the distance but we venture closer and closer…

After easing us in with resplendence; the familiar eeriness of psychedelically contorting guitars and chilling vocals twisting atop waves of majestic drums fills the air. Blut Aus Nord continue in the vein of “Hallucinogen” (my favourite of their records) in terms of cinematic and cosmic atmosphere, but this new album definitely puts even more focus on the guitars and a more tranquil ambience. Whether it can match that greatness is still yet to be decided, but I am certainly entranced by it. The more traditional black metal elements provide a furious texture to this otherworldly opus, still holding onto those flowing streams of lunar radiance. These sections definitely add some more venom to the otherwise very subtle and enigmatic ambience of the album. What is lacking for me is that sinister element that was lurking on most of their prior works. Sure this is a beautiful album, there is no denying that, but I still want the heart of a black metal release to feel evil and hostile, even ugly at times. I hope towards its climax these fiercer elements rear their head.

Speaking objectively about the musicianship, it’s sublime. The guitars, bass, drums, vocals, synths are all stunningly performed and the mix is exactly as Blut Aus Nord intended it; powerful with an enormous range of sounds all intertwined beautifully. While I can appreciate these things and enjoy them for what they are, there still isn’t that feeling of excitement or danger or mystery that pulls me in past it sounding nice. Of course this is just my perspective and a band like this whom offer such varied works across their discography will always have stronger and weaker points depending on what you seek from music. I am sure it is exactly what Vindsval wanted it to be, his vision is certainly clear and ever-changing and I commend his integrity in following it. I can quite happily return to other works where this might be the album that moved me like “Hallucinogen” did. Conversely, maybe that album that blew my mind might be a less interesting moment for somebody else. Whatever criticisms I have heard are certainly personal and at the end of the day “Ethereal Horizons” is a very well-made and wonderfully crafted record. So take these words with a grain of salt, but I must be truthful to my perspective. In saying that, it is abundantly clear that a lot of hard work went into these pieces of music and I truly hope they satisfy others more than myself.

For me the band still feels at their best on “Hallucinogen” with the “777 Trilogy” and “Disharmonium – Undreamable Abysses” as other crowning achievements. “Ethereal Horizons” is still a very good record, just not my favourite. Perhaps more listens will move me more profoundly, but as it stands I enjoyed this album but cannot see it being a regular spin. I am possibly being harsh because we have heard such near-perfection from Blut Aus Nord that I know they are capable of something more to my taste. Those who want the limits of metal pushed into many new vistas, you will surely be very pleased to hear this. Those seeking something still very rooted in black metal might find themselves a bit underwhelmed, but such is the nature of a band who refuse to play by the rulebook which is surely a respectable way to be. You can’t be truly experimental and please everyone all the time and I do not fool myself into thinking that would ever be the bands intent. So listen, decide for yourself where this sits in their impressive and still-surprising discography.