Review Summary: Blackgaze with a bit more emphasis on the gaze.
Sometimes approaching an album with preconceptions as to what it will be like can greatly, and not necessarily positively, affect the initial enjoyment one can get out of listening to it. Due to the distinctly black metal stylised logo and prior knowledge of the label they are signed to (Avantgarde Records, whose most notable artists include
Abigor and
Darkspace), I was surprised to find myself listening to what can only be described as post rock with black metal elements. But when listening to it for what it is, as opposed to what it gives the impression to be, this is an interesting, even somewhat relaxing album that is well worth giving your full attention to at least twice.
A two piece from Milan,
Asofy have been the namesake of multi-instrumentalist Tryfar and vocalist/lyricist Empio since 2000, and prior to the release of Percezione had released one full length, one EP and one split (with Sleeping Village, a two piece where Tryfar took vocal duties). For their second full-length, they recorded four tracks, each of which are entirely in Italian and over 10 minutes in length. Across the four tracks, Asofy claim there is a theme of descension; in this case, it is definitely possible to see how that is implemented, both vocally and musically. The album is at it's lightest during the opener LuminositÃ*, which makes use of delayed guitars, bright tremolo picked interludes and long, repeated sections to give the music a very airy quality. It is at this point in the album that Empio's vocals are at their least distorted, although here they are an acquired taste - it is difficult to take seriously the slightly pirate-like snarls used primarily during the first set of lyrics. As the album moves forward, there are spoken sections, more typical black metal shrieks and howls, and finally a 'radio'd-in' rasping used, providing a certainly eery edge to the closer OscuritÃ*. In line with the vocals, although the post-rock sensibilities remain throughout, there is an increasingly darkening atmosphere created by Tryfar's increasing usage of dissonant strings, high sweeping notes and changing drum sections to ensure the listener is allowed to settle less the further in they go.
One drawback of this album however, is in the creation of the aforementioned atmosphere there are some sections that, despite their changing natures, seem to go on for too long. The unfortunate thing is that this tends to happen at around the 8 minute mark in each song, which does mean that it can feel like the same idea has been played with on each track, which would not be an entirely unfair conclusion. On top of this, there are times where the music is built up to what feels like a big climax only for it to burn back down again, or to segue into a slightly unenthralling black metal section that lacks the ferocity needed to truly make it worthwhile. However, it could be argued that this is applicable to the theme of descension - but, is it worth dampening potential to stick more ardently to a theme?
On the whole though, despite the odd overplayed instrumental section and some occasionally questionable vocals, this is a surprisingly easy to listen to album that conversely can inspire a surprising amount of thinking should it be taken at slightly more than face value. What Asofy do well, they do very well, and what is less good, is easy to ignore.
