[review for a release that is more than two years of age, yet since it is never, ever, too late to focus on worthy stuff / and because of my appreciation for the label involved…]
Location: Medellin, Colombia
Members: Domos Aidaou (vocals & guitars), Maldito (bass), GoreRoman (guitars), Cadáver (drums)
Recorded: 11/2020-05/2021
Production, mix, mastering: Alvaro Alvarez (Nebuloza Producciones)
Type: jewel-case / slipcase CD (The Ritual Productions); later (May 2022) also on tape (Destroyer Productions & Ars Bellum Records)
Duration: 55:26
Genre: fast & epic Melodic Black Metal
To celebrate their tenth anniversary, the Colombian horde Solemne Mortis returns with their second full-length, smartly called Perpetual Nonexistence. It’s a ten-tracker with quite morbid yet intriguing artwork (no idea who is the visual artist behind this stunning material). The compact-disc, which was released via the Dutch label The Ritual Productions, contains the lyrics (in English), and was pressed in an edition of 500 copies, including a carton slipcase. In the meantime, there’s a tape-edition too, by the way.
Perpetual Nonexistence starts with the acoustic introduction Abscence (sic), which might sound little ‘cheesy’, if you want to (or if you don’t want to). The ‘real’ stuff starts as from the first ‘real’ song, which is the lengthy title track. That specific piece stands for traditional (name it ‘Orthodox’, if you want to) Black Metal with a timeless character, intensive in execution, and combining crafted melodies and an epic atmosphere. The main structure is based on harmonious tremolo leads and grandiloquent riffs. This gets supported by a fast-paced, victorious and powerful rhythm section, which consists of barbaric drums and percussions (of a high level!), and energetic, pounding rhythm strings. From vocal point, the lead voice is of a raw, intense, vehement kind, with a convincing timbre and an intelligible pronunciation. At about half of this composition, a nice acoustic intermezzo brings a moment of manifest tranquility, yet don’t let you fool you, for it does not mean that things turn weak or gentle; even that semi-acoustic fragment shows this band’s ability to convince with their combative attitude.
The better part of the album is intense, forceful, fast and dynamic. The speed varies from up-tempo over energetic to mercilessly blasting, yet even within the fastest excerpts, Solemne Mortis do not exaggerate. The few acoustic fragments and some slower excerpts (like that heroic chapter in Evocations, with that harmonious and anthemic choir) work as welcomed counterbalance within this collection of war-hymns.
The sound-quality is very neat. The mix offers enough room for all instruments (read: members) to contribute as essential segment within the whole structure behind the tracks. Yet then again, the production is not too tidy, being a good thing, for that hint of unpolished roughness strengthens the inherent epicism and reign. And even-though the vocals and lead guitars might play the main role in this sonic narrative, it’s fine to clearly experience the drums (highly-qualitative performance) and basses (like the four-stringed lines in Utopian Desires or Eclipsed, for instance).
PS: the outro Transient is an acoustic track too, with flute and guitars, resulting in an archaic yet refreshing folky tune…
Do not expect a renewing album. Perpetual Nonexistence does not renew the scene at all. On the contrary, this album floats within the spheres of tradition and will appeal to all ‘fans’ of intense and energetic Black War Majesty. Approaching the one-hour limit, this recording presents aural conviction and bravery…
https://www.fenriznl.com/product/solemne-mortis-cd-perpetual-nonexistence/
https://solemnemortis.bandcamp.com/album/perpetual-nonexistence