Review Summary: Sinister buffet.
After digesting
Elegies of the Stellar Wind to an inadequate degree I’ve arrived at the only natural conclusion; sole member GrimSpirit is a cut above his contemporaries when it comes to weaving an immersive and atmospheric tale via the black metal medium. This latest Evilfeast full-length emerges half a decade after its predecessor, and evidently no moment of the interim period was squandered. A respected grandfather in the Polish scene, this solo project meshes a delicious lo-fi black metal foundation with distinct symphonic flavours in a fashion not entirely dissimilar to Norwegian heavyweights Emperor. Bathed in archaic textures,
Elegies… yields an authentic “vintage” aesthetic throughout, in some respects resembling a nondescript classic film stylistically. Accompanied by a seamless modern composition, however, no room is left to doubt the album’s timelessness. Bordering on cinematic, each track is chock-full of gothic synths, organs, sound effects, nature samples, and countless other subtle embellishments serving illustrative purposes.
Even more impressive than the inclusion of so many additional adornments, sewn into the more traditional black metal fabric, is how organic everything sounds. Sure, oftentimes the synths and various effects can sound a little dated and cheesy, but it always feels intentionally anachronistic rather than cheap and gimmicky – charming instead of tacky. The illusion is never broken within the world of
Elegies…, and emerging from its icy depths only encourages you to dive back in once more. GrimSpirit clearly possesses a masterful command over melody, haunting tones, and songwriting dynamics, but far and away the most commendable skill on display is his impeccable attention to detail - something sorely appreciated when subsequent flirtations with the album reveal a depth merely hinted at ephemerally. As you thoughtfully tread between the thick forest of atmospheric black metal conjured by Evilfeast, an irresistible urge to wander and lose yourself amongst the tempting groves might strengthen. And that’s just fine. Sometimes you need to ditch the path in order to reach the destination.
