Six years after Paracletus, the French giants Deathspell Omega release a new full-length album. The Synarchy of Molten Bones is officially a full-length, but it is a compact album that barely lasts half an hour, that is, it has roughly the same playtime as an EP.
However that may be, Deathspell Omega, one of the most innovative bands of the third wave, prove not to have lost their main qualities: Synarchy is an album full of the typical dissonances that are the hallmark of style of the French band, it is as insane and alienating as Deathspell Omega have always been. For this reason, Synarchy will not disappoint the fans of the sound of the band from Poitiers; on the other hand, the very fact that this album does not propose any innovation can be a bit disappointing. Perhaps a difference from Paracletus lies in Synarchy being slightly less melodic and in its emphasizing the alienating effect through riffs dissected in acomplex and convoluted way. To me Synarchy is a great album anyway.
As for the lyrics, they reflect the same complexity of the music; what I love in the lyrics is the band’s ability to always explore the expressive possibilities of the English language, and the results are admirable although English is not the native language of the band members. Look at this example from “Famished for Breath”:
“The haughty strides of Time thou shalt put to halt
and mangle Past and Future with ghastly wounds.
While for these deeds thou hast
borne universal reproach,
laugh at their vain designs, for scarce the sun hath
finished his journey, nothing remains but
the dread tribunal of an everlasting Present.”
In conclusion, this album is a must have!
Notes:
The Synarchy of Molten Bones was released on November 8 2016 on Norna Evamgelium Diaboli.
Personnel:
Khaos: Bass
Hasjarl: Guitars See also: ex-Hirilorn
Mikko Aspa: Vocals
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com
However that may be, Deathspell Omega, one of the most innovative bands of the third wave, prove not to have lost their main qualities: Synarchy is an album full of the typical dissonances that are the hallmark of style of the French band, it is as insane and alienating as Deathspell Omega have always been. For this reason, Synarchy will not disappoint the fans of the sound of the band from Poitiers; on the other hand, the very fact that this album does not propose any innovation can be a bit disappointing. Perhaps a difference from Paracletus lies in Synarchy being slightly less melodic and in its emphasizing the alienating effect through riffs dissected in acomplex and convoluted way. To me Synarchy is a great album anyway.
As for the lyrics, they reflect the same complexity of the music; what I love in the lyrics is the band’s ability to always explore the expressive possibilities of the English language, and the results are admirable although English is not the native language of the band members. Look at this example from “Famished for Breath”:
“The haughty strides of Time thou shalt put to halt
and mangle Past and Future with ghastly wounds.
While for these deeds thou hast
borne universal reproach,
laugh at their vain designs, for scarce the sun hath
finished his journey, nothing remains but
the dread tribunal of an everlasting Present.”
In conclusion, this album is a must have!
Notes:
The Synarchy of Molten Bones was released on November 8 2016 on Norna Evamgelium Diaboli.
Personnel:
Khaos: Bass
Hasjarl: Guitars See also: ex-Hirilorn
Mikko Aspa: Vocals
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com
