On this year Lisbon,Portugal based black metal band Onirik pairs with Houtland,Belgium's enigmatic,terrifying hermit Grimfaug and Unveiled a split on this year entitled “MMXIV-MMXVI” via Iron Bonehead Productions record label with 1:00:24 min running time along with relentless unnerving, foggy, almost-medieval music. This new rituals consist with 8 tracks . New Split exploding with righteous resolve, hysteric, miasma-inducing malestorm of classic coldness.
When I first heard this Split I was stunned. It was immediate and I was overwhelmed. Black metal coming from a deep, non-physical place. When I listened to this I didn’t feel that instant calling from the frost covered lands of death which black metal so often provokes. It’s dark but the rest is abstract, it’s open to the interpretation and feeling each one gets from the listen. Aforementioned both bands delivers distinctly experimental, atmospherically evil form of black metal with a little bit of the atmospheric leanings. Both bands each and every musician (Gonius Rex - Onirik, Norgaath - Grimfaug and Menthor - Grimfaug,Onirik) did fantastic job on this Split in radiant way . This whole studio effort reflects the grand diversity of sound brought together on this new release . A natural synthesis of dissonant sounds and disparate styles all combined in one bold, enlightened display of unbound creativity Despite the often fast ,furious,cacophonous black metal assaults with a lots of segments of slower tempo too where Onirik/Grimfaug combines Frozen guitars output, creepy atmospheric passages,noisy,mid paced black metal arpeggios with cavernous drum thrashes, melancholic guitars and those effective,croaking Vocals. The big kicker here are all the choir voices. Indeed, Onirik and Grimfaug both bands could have the soundtrack to where you continually get killed by horrific, strange beasts. Controller throwing is optional so, I warn you before enter this journey.
well,their latest opus opened by Onirik with avant-garde style black metal with slow burn of long term fright where Grimfaug opts for a more straightforward harmonic sense, instead communicating all fear purely in unbridled aggression. Grimfaug creates standard cold, tremolo picked chords, raspy screams and raw drums blast beaten away with a snare that clunks. Their whole composition and musical style is impeccable also borrow great atmosphere with sour ,dissonant riffs work . The guitar melodies here have something sublime and evoke memories of snow-capped peaks in the loneliness of Norway. Norgaath and Menthor’s atmospheric heavy black metal is absolutely uncompromising, recalling the early No Fashion releases through a lens of expressionist fury.
This new Split's whole compositions are extremely filthy and unsettling piece of sinister euphoria and unearthly ambiance . Their distinct entity infused me by a lot in invaded my ears again . Their musical style have a quite soft and smooth edge in the guitar playing which adds to the more atmospheric,unique kind of black metal but at the same time the vocals and other parts of the riffing is straight forward brutal simultaneously along with nasty quickly picked lines, guitar harmonies and high, tortured screams. After a multiple listen this incantation just blew me away with their ethereal abyss,multidimensional ,the multi-layered,ominous musical style . Each musicians have exudes tremendous effort on this Split with excellent diligence and nailed it . I highly cite and embrace them. It’s a moment of pure inspiration in the black metal atmosphere.
This Split is filled with a slew of cadence, apocalyptic, ominous,hellish, slow but powerful , frozen riffs work . As well bass line up is whopping,intense,strong ,rumbling, slithering . Drumming,percussion line up is bleak, frantic,solid,clattering and powerful . In each track morbidly delicious,slow,macabre,soaring,dark eerie riffs,bass lineups matched in well manner . The most striking thing you’ll notice about the sound of Onirik and Grimfaug is the air of agression,atmosphere,foggy, medieval that quite literally drips from the noise they create . This whole materials sound deliver a dissonant,grim feeling,sinister,melancholic,gruesome black metal with raw emotion and pure energy . “MMXIV-MMXVI” endures beauty of black metal and rinse purity of black flame . This Split indulge strong songwriting and brilliant musicianship . vocals occupy the other spot on the podium and despite the fact that it isn’t too grating. Vocals decently large voice that does well for their own band. Vocals drags on in concordance with the slower parts of the compositions, sometimes recurring to subtle effects that exacerbate the threat in his words or even to demented moans that look like they come from the most unbridled melancholic facet present in all of us. Vocals howling scream, menacing ,immense,deep rasps ,hoarse voice emerged on this Split in a well manner and intertwined perfectly with their anticlimactic ,utterly spellbinding,obtuse,bizarrely arrogant, mysterious,fully blistering,aggressive black metal,distant musical style with a lots of melodic,atmospheric,accompaniment and embedded perfectly . Overall you will get sinister,gloomy,desolate,mysterious ambient from this whole Split .This is another of those monumental release which has taken me a spell to ponder. I really worship this band. They have masterfully treads the fine line between antiquated grandeur and hollow, cobweb-coated emptiness.
Each song have an energy ,fluency and draw a savage,atmospherc,foggy landscape .Stand out tracks are all of them . I personally Cherish both bands each and every single track and enjoyed Grimfaug's portion a little bit more than Onirik part but again saying appreciate Onirik and Grimfaug both bands all track. Artwork is macabre, gorgeously hideous, Pretty neat,atrocious,grisly .
Overall “MMXIV-MMXVI” whole Split is Spectacular,engrossing ,significant. The production is absolutely impeccable,capable of handling both the massive atmospheric and gargantuan heft. Indeed this Split is such an true hidden gem of this year . The Portugal/Belgium bruisers still possess all the necessary skills and hard-won experience to put younger,newcomer challengers in their place.Both bands (Onirik and Grimfaug) has welded the styles together and has created something greater than the sum of its influences. The black metal production makes the riffs come to the mind indistinctively but perceptible to the anima, simultaneously becoming a memorable experience though never repetitive. It’s always possible to detect secondary melodies that weren’t there the last time and won’t be there the next.
Onirik in MMXIV-MMXVI - 4.9/5
Grimfaug in MMXIV-MMXVI - 5/5
Overall My Rating – 5/5, Review done by Souvik Basu, Published on 18/04/2017
