Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Aetherius Obscuritas Viziok (Visions) Company: Paragon Records Release: 2007 Reviewer: Grim Gaijin Genre: Black

Rating 4

Better than most of mediocre Black Metal that is being released these days

For a while now, the US Black Metal scene has been carrying the torch once lit by the Black Metal forefathers of Norway. With bands such as Wolves In The Throne Room, Blood Of The Black Owl, Lurker Of Chalice, and Xasthur paving the way with their visionary dark art, it's about time for some competition from across the pond. Hailing from Hungary, Aetherius Obscuritas plan to travel down the same destructive path, while at the same time, honoring the Black Metal Ancestors of the past. With their first major release from Paragon Records, Viziok (Visions), Arkhorrl and company are ready to destroy the world!

Starting things off with the song Visions, Aetherius Obscuritas crushes with their "Dusk...and Her Embrace-era" Cradle of Filth riffs and vokill screams. Once the singing starts, it sounds more like Mille from Kreator than Dani(CoF), which is not a bad thing because it blends perfectly with the menacing music. The next song, Mysterious Path of Desires, starts with a thrash riff then quickly morphs into a mid-paced black metal creation. Often switching to blast beats with folk-style keyboards, AO easily demonstrate their ability to incorporate many styles into the existing mayhem-like songs. Nine Winters of Mist and Journey to Immortality convincingly show influences from bands such as Marduk and Hecate Enthroned by combining extremely brutal riffs with enchanting classical acoustic moments. The Lockless Door is a four minute riff attack that remains relentless until the end. My Refuge In Darkness starts off nice and quiet like, then surges into what could possibly be the most aggressive song on the CD. Dream Pt. II and Silence Hewn In Stone continue the evil onslaught while Black Moorland slows things down a bit with its eerie guitar tone, slow-paced drumming and ear-piercing vokills. Who Never Really Left is a classical guitar instrumental that fades into As A Stranger. With early Iron Maiden style riffs, AO once again pays homage to the forefathers of metal. The final song on the CD, Dead Season, perfectly sums up the CD with ultra-lightening drumming, masterful riffs and screams that many Black Metal bands wish they could have.

Black Metal is one of my favorite sub-genre of metal, but these days many bands come and go because they do not have the heart and passion to create music from the soul. Fortunately, Aetherius Obscuritas is the exact opposite! It is easy to identify that their hearts bleed Black Metal throughout the whole album as it is better than most of mediocre Black Metal that is being released these days. I highly recommend Aetherius Obscuritas for fans of early Darkthrone, Marduk and early Cradle of Filth.