Review Summary: A captivating journey through time
As the gentle waves slowly wash over the opening moments of Reverberations the steel string plucking of a tranquil guitar is joined harmoniously by the wistful melodies of a pensive harmonica. A symphony of strings slowly rolls over the hills into the sunlit landscape as a solemn choir emerges into the foreground. A cadent drum pulsates the earth alongside sweeping tremolo riffs and the observer is guided into the archaic world were Allelic resides.
This one-man project, conducted solely by The Principal Investigator, is a musical experiment recovered from an ancient past, previously thought lost in a distant time. A myriad of tools found on Reverberations are masterfully handled to construct a truly unique amalgamation of folk and black metal. Guitars, bass, wooden spoons, feet percussion, harmonica, and drums, are all used effectively throughout this short 14-minute journey. To label it “black metal” or “folk” would be misleading as the two elements are more intertwined than fused, however, the transitions between the two are seamlessly woven together by excellent song writing and dynamics.
The more intense lo-fi atmospheric sections create visions of floating amidst brooding heavenly celestial bodies, gazing deeply into black vistas of space and time, only to be pulled back to terra firma, at the heart of an olden faire surrounded by crowds merrily dancing, wondrous smells of mulled wine and smoked meat, and a celebration of a simpler life. Where many similar one-man projects fall short with stagnation and lack of creativity, Allelic excels, and the journey throughout such a brief listen is remarkably mesmerizing.
The biggest disappointment with this debut EP is there just isn’t more of it. 14 minutes is enough time for Allelic to establish the atmosphere of its primitive world, but as soon as the hooks are set the experience is over, leaving the listener wanting more. Time will tell what The Principal Investigator is capable of building in his workshop, but if Reverberations is any indication of future quality then there is a lot to look forward to.
