Review Summary: Beautiful Disaster.
Hunter Hunt Hendrix is likely content that his band are defined by the glamorously pretentious manifesto that accompanied
Aesthetica's release. As much as Liturgy are often categorized as 'black metal', they seem far more content in trolling genre obsessives with bizarre and often confronting fusions of disparate genres. Oftentimes this boiled down to an absurd take on the emerging blackgaze craze that's consumed American music in the last few years. However, where Deafheaven have succeeded in crafting a seamless transition between sublime definitions of darkness and beauty, Liturgy position themselves as glib destroyers of metal conventions, oft times throwing as much at the wall as time will permit. Of course
Sunbather has come to be accepted by the wider metal community in recent years, so Hendrix's change of pace has equated to his strangest obsession yet; Death Grips, Swans, and his ideas of 'transcendental black metal' molded into a formidable whole.
As such,
The Ark Work dances merrily between opposite sides of totally different genres without a care in the world. At one moment, Hendrix falls back onto a bed of eccentric and glitchy beats in debt to Death Grips- most apparent on the subtle hooks of lead single "Quetzalcoatl". The next, Hendrix feels it apt to do his best Michael Gira impression and wail ominously over droning guitar lines minutes later on the same song. Hendrix's approach is sure to piss off black metal diehards, as his complete avoidance of blast beats and screeching make way for monotone moaning and IDM-inflected instrumentals. That's apparent when the sheer bombastic ambition of "Reign Array" consumes
The Ark Work, displaying a band so carefree in execution that it renders criticisms over Hendrix's choice of amp and cabinet laughable. On said track, caution is thrown to the wind as burst beats awkwardly glue together wondrous attempts at instrumental hip-hop and massive metal riffing. There's a genuine charm to how Hendrix toys with conventions, even if that often boils down to him inadvertently creating music that seems like its only desire is to be a meme. Sometimes that sense of humour can get a little overbearing and, predictably, not everything works; Hendrix's playfulness can't get him through the stiff rapping in "Vitriol", where his visions of 'transcendental black metal' trip up and become utterly cringeworthy. However, it's rare that everything in this scenario could work, seeing as
The Ark Work lives or dies by its patchwork aesthetic.
When compared to similarly troll baiting bands of the last few years, Liturgy function far better with a genuine approach to inventiveness. Hunter Hunt Hendrix has not only succeeded in magnifying the ridiculous seriousness with which some take black metal, he's succeeded in creating something so joyously bizarre that you can't help but stare at the flaming wreckage in front of you. It's hard to say whether one would love or loath Liturgy's latest onslaught of twisted metal, as the pleasure is often derived from how hilariously unlikely it is hip-hop, drone, and black metal could ever coexist in the same song. Say what you will,
The Ark Work is a beautiful disaster.
