Abhor: Ab Luna Lucenti, Ab Noctua Protecti

Italy's Abhor have been hovering around on the outskirts of the black metal scene for well over a decade, releasing four full lengths since 2000, and have now released this, Ab Luna Lucenti, Ab Noctua Protecti, their fifth slab of black metal perversion. What makes it stand out amongst the proliferation of BM that floods the underground is its sense of otherworldliness, fortified with the use of antediluvian synth sounds that give shape to an aesthetic that, at first listen, may otherwise have remained a standard BM album. The guitars climb and fall, the tremolo-picked riffs scar the soundscape, the chords tear their way through the ether, and the synths sounds precariously hang over them, adding a dimension that is haunting to the tracks. Thus, the tracks have space, room for movement and development, such as 'Echoes Of Desperation And Hate' which takes on the air of dark, cold dungeons permeated with gothic and occult vacancy. That the tracks tend to drag more than drive is to their credit as the atmosphere of whispering winds and serene evils is spellbinding. 'De Vermiis Mysteriis' shifts the tempo up a little but is no less effective in its overbearing weight, the chord-bending riff juxtaposed with the chilling piano giving the song an eerie and unsettling texture. Ab Luna Lucenti, Ab Noctua Protecti is a wealth of surprises. The songs are well structured, each layer combining to create an antiquated atmosphere of magic and alchemy, of occult mystery and subtle yet hidden dark forces. This is a fascinating piece of work that upon repeat listens reveals greater depths in its chilling scope. Delicate, it is menacing without being overwhelmingly brutal. Hauntingly magnificent.

Track Listing:

1. Golden Path
2. Hearing Without Fear
3. Echoes Of Desperation And Hate
4. Paranormal Mantric Experience III – Ostium
5. Scent Of Sulphur
6. De Vermiis Mysteriis
7. Seven Magic
8. Wind Between Fingers
9. Aura Ignis Aqua Tellus

Added: October 9th 2011
Reviewer: Jason Guest
Score:
Related Link: Abhor's official website
Hits: 2571
Language: english

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