777 - Sect(s)

Probably the most anticipated black metal album of the year, not just because it's a new Blut Aus Nord release, but because it was revealed this was a continuation of the sound and themes on 'The Work Which Transforms God'... low and behold, it's a complete revelation. The project of grvim french maestro Vindsval has reached new levels of excellence in an arena of music for which BAN is already completely peerless.

The album is made up of 6 Epitomes... I mean tracks... 'Epitome II' is a particularly amazing piece of work which has a similar vibe to 'Our Blessed Frozen Cells' and 'Procession of Dead Clowns' from 'TWWTG'. Also the poppy industrial section at the end of 'Epitome I' leading into Epitome II is just jaw dropping. 'Epitome IV' is a massive departure from the usual sound, using sort of polyrhythms and low tunings to make a churning mid-paced tumbling vortex. It really has to be heard to be believed and understood - Certainly not something I would've expected to hear from Blut Aus Nord, but definitely something I welcome with open arms. 'Epitome VI' is just pure hypnotic brilliance.

The guitar is once again, microtonal and unique with clashing chromatic melodies that sound more like a tormented animal than a musical instrument. The level of thought that's gone into the composition, sound and riffing style is just cosmic and cerebral. The mind working to it's fullest in a massive meditative state.

The drums are still programmed, but the kick and snare is more organic, and in 'objective' terms, offer an overall improval to the mix. I loved the drum sound on the other albums too, but this sort of ellivates the sound beyond what the composition of the guitars offer and means the huge production is also a ferocious force of focus.

I'm not just gushing because I'm a big fan of Blut Aus Nord, This music is literally 'Art' in it's highest terms. To take something so unique, that on paper sounds like it would be a cacophonous mess... and craft into something with such a pleasing aesthetic, atmosphere and specific thematic purpose... I don't know about you, but I couldn't even dream the sounds Vindsval creates and commits to the cosmos.

I investigated this album based on the rave review it received on Pitchfork but understood I was going to be listening to something very unfamiliar and quite a way outside of my comfort zone. I must admit Black Metal is a genre I know next to nothing about - after listening to 777 Sect(S) the closest reference points to bands I already listen to were Neurosis (a queasy, evil quality, and some of the brutal riffs and layering), Isis (just a sense of epic scale and similarly not afraid to slow things down to a glacial pace where appropriate) and old school Paradise Lost (the closest I get to gothic metal really). As you can probably tell I see these as pretty tentative links and none of these comparisons really does justice to the work of Blut Aus Nord on this release - this is a completely unique listening experience for me.

The album is awe inspiringly expansive yet pulls off that key trick of also remaining totally immersive as the tracks flow perfectly from one to the next despite some brutal shifts in tempo and style. The intermittently pummelling drumming was perhaps the toughest element for me to get to grips with, these are closest to industrial from my experience and work more as another layer of noise and texture rather than what you'd expect from `traditional' rock and metal percussion. Some of the guitar work is outstanding, `Epitome II' is a real highlight - an apocalyptic, soaring monument of evil majesty! The closing `Epitome VI' is somewhat similar - once again the guitars really take flight and both compositions are strangely beautiful despite the pitch black darkness in tone.

Similar moments of grandeur repeat throughout the remaining songs but tend to be interspersed with bursts of relentless drums and heavy riffing plus various other experimental sections, such as the sparse, electro-influenced outro to `Epitome I'. `Epitome IV' is the longest track and stands out through taking a very different approach to everything else here - slower, churning guitar work with what sound like backwards sampled vocals lending a really sinister edge.

This is the type of album that if played at a high enough volume could no doubt cause grown men to soil themselves in terror - who knows, if those Mayans got it spot on and we're all checking out in 2012 at least it's reassuring to know that the perfect soundtrack has already been composed. And if they're wrong? Well I'm equally sure this would make a stunning soundtrack to dishing out evils to queue jumpers down the post office. Enjoy.