Review Summary: An interesting blend of numerous textures into an Ambient-Like/Black Metal Album.
Being that Rhino "cervs"[inside joke, don't be stumbled] the musical community by means of an underground black metal company, they have chosen to do things a bit differently. Rather than releasing albums by various bands/artist' under the label, they have chosen to release everything under the label's name; being "Rhinocervs". This allows the company to focus on the art/music rather than "image". While all of the albums and tracks are not credited to any band/individual the masterminds behind these creations are not unknown. Rhinocervs is made up of Odz Manouk, Tukaaria, Absum, Nihilobstat, Glossollalia, and possibly many other bands.
While elusive and mysterious, Rhinocervs creates music that is extremely consistent; attesting to the focus on music over image. "RH-12" slightly steers in a different direction than previous releases, due to the focus on depressive-atmosphere and softer, yet darker musical textures. Amongst these textures are distant melodic backdrops and slightly illuminative vocals that add warmth and feeling with the use of high pitched shrieks/screams. The panting drums give an exhausting feel that adds psychadelic features; allowing the melodies to ease easily into the psyche. Favoring double bass over blast beats, the drums use them in a way as if to tell your heart how to pound during any given passage; solidifying the emotive aspect of "RH-12".
The production greatly compliments the atmosphere when switching from fuzzy to clean avenues, such as in the case of track one. The clean textures are allowed to shrine through without destroying the pace. The bass is very noticable during these moments, carrying the atmosphere when the fuzzy guitars are not. Although listed as a one track release, "RH-12" is actually comprised of 3 segments of an actual "whole". All segments carry a similar feature of depression, only alternating with different melodies and depressive-like formulas.
Since the tracks are basically anonymous, the listener truly never knows if the artist are the same amongst the different songs. This proves to be a main drawback of "RH-12", as each of the tracks lack a sense of cohesiveness. The melodic undertones are found nowhere else on this release, causing diversity but lacking specific flow. Where certain tracks could be heightened by more variability such as drum fills and more alternating changes, the songs seem to have bit of a "drag-on" type of feeling which is native to most atmospheric black metal but not always a positive feature or element.
If you're into abmient/atmospheric black metal but want some softer, more delicate features, "RH-12" is where to go. The bass stands out more than previous releases and is one of the main instrumental higlights. The songwriting shows more of a lax attitude but doesn't make this a failure by any means.
