Review Summary: Buckle up, there is a lot to unpack here.
Et Moriemur is an Atmospheric Death/Doom outfit hailing from Prague. The band is a super-group comprised of members from Dissolving of Prodigy, Self-Hatred and Silent Stream of Godless Elegy. Tamashii has a lush soundscape that beautifully encapsulates sounds inspired by Eastern Asian culture, namely Japanese culture. The song titles appear to be named after Japanese cities. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find the lyrics to these tracks so I am not sure if there is historical or mythological themes tied to these songs. The bands previous effort, Epigrammata, had a focus on ancient Greece and was generally well received in the underground scene. These geographical time pieces are an interesting approach that to my knowledge is rather novel, not to mention challenging.
The band is clearly devoted to these themes and have gone the extra mile to employ the services of several musicians who are familiar with playing ethnically traditional instruments such as the shakuhachi, as well as classical instruments like the cello, harp, violin and more. On top of the Japanese influence, their also appears to be a gothic atmosphere that floats effortlessly above this conglomeration of sounds. As such, there is a plethora of musical transitions that take you from a soothing melodic soundscape to the shrill and oppressive atmosphere that death/doom metal is known for. This balancing act is realized sufficiently for the most part. If any transition appears to be questionable, the sheer musicianship keeps it interesting rather than a purely distracting experience.
To say that Tamashii is a unique experience would be selling it short. The album comes in at a lean 40 minutes and it honestly feels a lot shorter than that. Listing landmark tracks would be a futile effort as you are being pummeled with a cacophony of sound that makes it rather difficult to differentiate one track from the next. Now, that may be a red flag in most instances, but it isn't here. The merging of tracks is usually an indication of a record being bland and the songs inevitable running together as a result. However, what's happening hear is the exact opposite. This record has twist and turns at every corner leaving each song with a moment of brilliance that could be commented on. It just isnt an easy task selecting which one if the most noteworthy!
Tamashii is a transcendental experience that will probably have no equal come December. It is a soothing album that can be paradoxical at times. The atmosphere entices the listener to sit back and apply a relaxed focus to the melodies, but there are select passages that shock you into a more clinical approach. Ultimately, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this become a divisive album in the community long after its release.
