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Band: Eigenlicht
Album: Self-Annihilating Consciousness
Release Date: 16 February 2018
Label: I, Voidhanger Records
Tracklist:
01. There Lies Already The Shadow Of Annihilation
02. Hagia Sophia
03. Labrys
04. Deifugal Force
05. Berserker
Eigenlicht is a rather interesting band, based in Washington (USA), and it appeared in 2014. The band released an EP in 2015 and now the first full-length follows. The members of Eigenlicht catch the attention from fans of the USBM, mostly because their previous efforts were in bands such as Skagos, Fauna, Ekstasis, and other projects throughout the Pacific Northwest. The music of this band hits the door of experimental black metal with all the fury and despite using a few aspects of folk origin, uses a very intriguing mix between black metal and doom metal.
Self-Annihilating Consciousness is anything but pure black metal, goes against all constraints of the genre, performs an intricate blend of styles that could sound chaotic, but the epic tracks that could become repetitive, fall into something very sinister and unique. Many of the tracks have the same formula, a very suffocating melancholy and depression, the agonizing vocals, the main riffs, often changing from melancholy to a revived groove. Diversity is undoubtedly fluid and gratifying but certainly not recommended to anyone with ideas obscured by despair or maybe not.
The opening track, "There Lies Already The Shadow Of Annihilation", is an ambient journey of tribal spirit with a flute carrying the music to an ethereal, mystical place. Behind this lovely opening, tremolo-picked guitars sound static in the background, well in the style of the second wave of black metal. I really enjoyed this track because of this mix. "Hagia Sophia", the second track is almost 14 minutes long and surprised me because I expected a very characteristic, sinister and cold black metal, but instead I was presented with doom metal. The drums are methodically intense and pluripotent, while the guitars beat through of a string of heavy riffs. The keyboards add a perfectly atmospheric vibe that makes the whole trail an almost unidentifiable amalgam or if you prefer without any gender classification.
From here, things get faster, more perverse and much blacker. “Labrys” begin with a wicked riff and is nicely mixed with some atmospheric post elements into the song. The melodies are dissonant and so goes "Deifugal Force", my favourite track. The keyboards hold the melancholic tone and allow the guitar to show up and the drums remain in the background acting more subtly.
Shadow of doubts apart, Self-Annihilation Consciousness is an album worthy of note due to its boundless innovation, and Eigenlicht a band that is not afraid to venture beyond the boundaries of the black metal genre, without fear of innovating and in bring their unique and perfect style. Self-Annihilation Consciousness was released via I, Voidhanger Records and it's available in a jewelcase CD with 12-page booklet and vinyl edition via Gilead Media. Fans of Wolves In The Throne Room, Skagos and Fauna will be almost for sure very surprised and pleased with this release of Eigenlicht.
Review written by: Felin Frost
Rating: 7,5/10
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