Review Summary: An unknown gem within the never ending sea of atmospheric black metal.
Music really is a wonderful thing. It can put images in your head that you might've never thought before or take you away to a place that gets you out of reality just for a little while. When we listen to music, anything is possible. Some albums give you thoughts of joy and happiness, some can make you depressed, and some can make you feel downright uneasy. That would be where one man black metal band Colosus comes in. If there was an album that could make you feel uncomfortable and claustrophobic in a good way, it would be this album,
Blestem.
The music presented on the debut Colosus album made me feel very uneasy based upon first listen and I'm not saying that in a bad way. Sometimes we hear an album that completely blows us away and that's exactly my experience with
Blestem. This isn't just another atmospheric black metal album that falls in with the rest of the bunch, this album is a straight up behemoth. The riffs hit you like a brick wall and are varied and interesting throughout and they are what gives this album life. Even with a runtime of about an hour, you'll find yourself completely immersed in the suffocating atmosphere. Creepy yet weirdly melodic ambient bits are sprinkled throughout the album, adding an extra touch to the overall disturbing vibe presented here. The vocals aren't anything too special, but considering the nature of the overall sound that's not a problem in the slightest.
Emotion is one of the biggest factors in making a successful black metal album and this album has that aspect down to a tee. Think of being locked down in a mental facility in a padded room by yourself with no connection to the outside world and that's pretty much what you will experience when listening to this. If you're a fan of black metal, there's absolutely no reason that you shouldn't listen to
Blestem. It has everything a fan of the genre would want. Pain, suffering, and hopelessness all wrapped up into a little under an hour of one demented album. This is one hell of a debut album and one that will have fans of the genre aching for more.
