Review Summary: With III, Spectral Lore immaculately blend a plethora of genres with atmospheric black metal, creating an album that is well worth the intimidating hour-and-a-half listen. Strap in for one of the most unique and rewarding experiences that black metal has
I wish that I could give some insight as to the background of the genius behind this album, but unfortunately, not much is known about him. I know that he goes by the alias Ayloss, and that he's from Greece. Other than that, information pertaining to him is sparse. I actually consider it rather unfortunate that he chooses to remain at such a high degree of anonymity. If we as much as knew his real full name (because I genuinely doubt that his actual name is "Nihilus Ayloss,") that would at least give us the opportunity to look into his side projects. Alas, we may never get the chance to know any more about Ayloss. This doesn't stop us, however, from admiring his masterwork, his magnum opus, A.K.A
III.
With this album, Ayloss has managed to extract elements from an impressive number of genres, including, but not limited to post rock, folk, ambient, and of course, black metal. Furious blast beats coupled with piercing vocals will often give way to haunting acoustic passages. Unlike you may expect, though, transitions like these happen with an astounding degree of direction. Not once does an interlude seemingly come out of nowhere. After listening to just the opening track, it becomes apparent just how gifted Ayloss is in terms of songwriting. I imagine that it's no easy feat writing a song that's 10+ minutes and making it consistent, cohesive, and interesting. Somehow, every song on this album is all three of those things. At no point does any aspect of the music seem out of place. Unlike the vast majority of atmospheric black metal, the listener always has a sense for the direction that the music is going in, and will almost certainly have little to no trouble following along.
Not only does this album offer top-notch songwriting. The instrumentation here is among some of the most unique that you'll ever stumble across in the desolate world of black metal, which reeks with unoriginality and lack of new ideas. Riffs are always driven with a profound sense of energy, never failing to cause the listener to nod his/her head along to the music. The guitars are also not excessively melancholic. This album doesn't focus so much on the traditional evil/depressing sound of black metal as it does on crafting an immersive and hypnotic atmosphere through guitars, both electric and acoustic, with a varying array of tonality, speed, and aggression. I personally found the best riffs to be those on
A Rider in the Lands of an Infinite Dreamscape. The drumming isn't anything too special, just traditional black metal. It will surely please the listener, though, as it is mixed excellently and provides a great deal of energy to the already-lively music.
Another standout track would have to be
Drifting through Moss and Ancient Stone. This track is without a doubt inspired almost completely by folk. Acoustic guitars interlock, beautifully permeating the song with intricate and serene riffs throughout its entirety. Only briefly are the acoustic guitars assisted by an electric guitar, all the while being accompanied by a soothing cello. This is truly one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. It just goes to show how amazingly versed and talented Ayloss is when it comes to writing in genres besides metal.
The final thing that I want to touch on is the mixing. In my opinion, this album has some of the best mixing that you'll ever find in the entire genre. All of the instruments are crystal clear at all times, while simultaneously not being overpowering in the slightest. The guitar tones do a stupendous job of conveying emotion and atmosphere. The ambiance always melds flawlessly with the music, which allows for it to accentuate the guitars, while never presenting itself directly in the forefront.
Overall, this album is damn near perfect. My only real complaint is the length. 90 minutes can be a lot to take in at once, and you unfortunately can't achieve the same level of satisfaction if you don't listen to the full thing in one sitting. I promise you though, it's worth it. By the time you reach the end of the album, I can guarantee you that you won't be even remotely bored or uninterested. So, if you're a fan of immersive, captivating, or innovative music, I implore you, pick this album up immediately. You will be pleasantly surprised with the amount of outstanding musicianship and creativity that
III has to offer.
