Review Summary: Corpus Christii, a band that deserve your attention...
Corpus Christii is one of the best well known black metal Portuguese acts that haven’t achieved the recognition level that Moonspell have, for example, although Corpus Christii would undoubtedly deserve it. Nevertheless, Corpus Chistii have managed to win an outstanding contract with one of the best global metal labels, Candlelight Records, who have also worked with other acts such as Anaal Nathrakh, Insomnium and November’s Doom, which is excellent, given the total unawareness and disinterest of Portuguese black metal. The band in question consists of two people, Nocturnus Horrendus, (who does all the instruments, excluding the drums) and Menthor (who does the drum work). Nocturnus Horrendus has strong beliefs in Satanism and black metal have always led him to work hard for a better Portuguese black metal scene, promoting and organizing hundreds of gigs all over Portugal, even with the worst conditions, surpassing countless obstacles and barriers that continuously tried to put him down. Despite lack of interest from metalheads, he always carried on, even when all the shows had less than 50 attendees. He began inviting black metal acts to play with him during his gigs and won recognition abroad when he formed other projects like Genocide Komando, Nox Inferi and Morte Incandescente, the latter of which is one of the most famous Portuguese black metal acts. He then went on to form his own label, Nightmare Productions, who works with bands such as Merrimack, Morte Incandescente and Onirik.
This album, 2007’s
Rising, has to be one of Portugal’s best black metal offerings. It has been thought, crafted and recorded in Portugal, and is regarded by some as the bands best to date. It’s highly original, diverse, well composed and it’s enticing. The album opens up with a very atmospheric intro, a choir singing a classical piece, but it sets a religious mood to the album. As the piece reaches its climax,
Stabbed blasts out at full force with fierce blast beats and razor sharp riffing. Whilst
Stabbed is an excellent opener, there are better tracks. Although this is black metal, somehow, all the tracks sound unique and different from the rest. There really is lots of variation to keep the listener interested and plenty of different soundscapes to enjoy. One minute, you’ll find yourself listening to a rawer section, whilst in another minute, you may have been dropped into a doomish realm. According to Nocturnus, this was something he never wanted to do, nevermind putting into a Corpus Christii recording, but since he was such a big fan of doom, he thought that this would be the right time to express this side of him, to make this album even more unique. Actually, Nocturnus succeeded and his objective was accomplished, as the magnificent
The Wanderer will prove.
Another important feature from this album, closely related to its dark ambience, is the way NH also managed to forge a constant atmosphere of agony and human decay, without falling into depressive or suicidal terrains, yet maintaining always a very strong sense of what a tormented existence sounds like. This brings forth yet another reason to give this record a listen. This is done by Nocturnus’ vocals. Curiously, he always said the he couldn’t sing (or play anything, for that matter), but the truth is that with
Rising, Nocturnus took a large step further to what singing really means. In fact,
Rising has got to be the best accomplished work from Nocturnus, vocally speaking. You have to hear it, the way he emphasizes his inner pain through his agonized screaming or distorted screeching. Apparently, Nocturnus reckoned he shouldn’t keep the same vocal style and patterns all over the record, otherwise it would have been “just another great record with monotonous vocals.”
Nocturnus is known for being a stubborn and obsessive person, who doesn’t allow himself to release a record just for the sake of it. The record must match exactly the way he imagined it in his mind and as long as things aren’t the way he wants, the album won’t come out. Blend this obsession with astounding composition skills, and you’re left with irrefutable evidence that Nocturnus has what it takes to turn himself into an icon and a timeless personality on the black metal throne. His song writing skills are undeniably good, as
Rising’s highlights prove, more specifically, the previously mentioned
The Wanderer, the chaotic
Blank Code,
Torrents Of Sorrow and
Heavenless Bliss. Although
Rising is, overall, a great album, these are tracks that are easily detached as the best.
If this album has convinced people that this guy is a legend in his own way, it’s not only because of his vocal work, but most likely, the instrumentation. Menthor is the drummer from Epping Forest, who have released a fabulous album (
Everblasting Struggle, released in 2008), playing an intense form of blackened death metal similar to later Behemoth. His style of playing suits the Corpus Christii atmosphere just fine, and there seems to be a sort of chemistry between the two metalheads, resulting to excellent albums. Nocturnus’ guitar riffs and melodies always coinciding with the drum blasts. The guitars work really well with the drums, but when the bass is added to the scene, the mood changes radically, giving place to something otherworldly. The bass tone is perfect and has been fully captured with the best quality, allowing the listener to perceive all its notes and lines which is always a plus, considering the intelligent riffs it distillates constantly.
Rising is liberation, a freedom shout and a fine ending for the cycle and a proof that Nocturnus is among the black metal entities that must be taken into account when people talk about quality black metal. With impressive artwork from Phobos, deep lyrics about the human condition and all the obstacles it faces, and marvelous song-structures and atmospheres,
Rising is a mandatory record for those who appreciate unique black metal in its purest, most hateful and wise way. Hail Corpus Christii!
