Review Summary: A simple, tight, no frills package that should please any fans of atmospheric-black metal.
With strong European routes, it is always a nice surprise to see black metal finding it's way across the globe. More specifically, Mexico. 'Eternidad Solemne' is definitely a solid, sophomore effort from the Mexican group Lluvia, painting vivid scenes of rain and thunder (a surprising opposite to the climate of which this album originated). 'Eternidad Solemne' nails despair and will definitely put Lluvia on the radar for atmospheric-black metal junkies.
Atmospheric-black metal has and always will start with "atmospheric", and 'Eternidad Solemne' is no exception. Every odd track, bar track 7 (but including track 8), is gloom and nihility minus the whole band. This works as a blessing and a curse as the atmospheric tracks (and most especially the closer) are absolutely gorgeous, but the quantity of these tracks can render the album tedious (a surprise for an album only clocking in at 44 minutes). A bit of cutting would have greatly helped the overall experience as I found myself zoning out of the music entirely at parts, and having to re-listen to segments to fully appreciate the sounds.
The "black" portion of the music, while lacking in originality, is well executed and enjoyable. While the first two of these tracks sound near identical in everything but tempo, they hold up the rainy mood with ease. The tracks are certainly haunting, and aren’t completely blindsided by awful production. The riffs are tight, the drumming (while nothing new) steads fast, and the vocals are a perfect fit for the form and sound of the album. While the vocals are the standout of the album, they generally sit within the safety zone of mid-to-high shrieks. Track 8, 'Divinidad', best encapsulates the full force of the band, being both the most technical, and the most dynamic. Production retains the grainy qualities of black metal we have come to love while keeping every instrument in the forefront. Heck, even the bass guitar is audible. But aside from a good production job, it is all standard fare.
However, regardless of originality, it is still a very satisfying listen. It nails depression. It nails atmosphere. It is a simple, tight, no frills package that should please any fans of atmospheric-black metal. Lluvia have (at least for me), put Mexico on the map in terms of black metal potential, and are definitely a band to be looking out for in the future. This is a bare-bones record that is easy to dive into while retaining a depressive mood. ‘Eternidad Solemne’ is not here to change atmospheric-black metal. It is here to remind us of why we enjoy it.
Available here: https://lluvia.bandcamp.com/album/eternidad-solemne
