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Into the Sunless Meridian > Into the Sunless Meridian > Reviews
Into the Sunless Meridian - Into the Sunless Meridian

A Forgotten Bayusik Project. - 60%

Perplexed_Sjel, November 17th, 2009

Sometimes I wonder whether Michael listens to the projects he makes. Surely he must, right? If so, I’m astonished he has so many of them. At this present moment in time, I have listened to exactly three of his projects, two of which are solo acts; this includes this band, Into The Sunless Meridian. As far as I can tell, there are only a few minor differences between each of them and Night Conquers Day, perhaps the most pivotal band Michael has performed in, are an act which consists of other musicians. So he has somehow managed to create solo effort after solo effort that sounds almost identical to his combined efforts with other fellow musicians on Night Conquers Day. Strange. Of course, given this is a Michael Bayusik project, this isn’t the only strange element of the debut self-titled record. As will be discussed with his other projects, particularly his solo efforts with Tearstained, his vocals are always the central aspect that reviewers will always slice, dice and serve up to the reader as the most pivotal aspect of the music. Forget the instrumentation, just take a listen to those vocals. They’re so engaging, yet mildly amusing at the same time. I don’t know whether they’re some sort of parody, or tongue-in-cheek expression of black metal vocals.

I remember when I first discovered Night Conquers Day, though Michael doesn’t use his high pitched shrieks as often with that band as he does his solo efforts, I didn’t know whether to conclude in my review that they’re exquisite, or horrendous. To this very day I’m still undecided as to whether the enigmatic style he uses is a source of inspired joy, or the most heart breaking thing to occur in the black metal scene. As I’ve entertained on my first Tearstained review, for the debut record, his high pitched screams are somewhat different to anything else you will come across in our black metal society, which has its fair share of unusual vocalists - including the surreal personality of Nattramn, a man who needs to be mentioned in comparison to Michael because then you will truly grasp the unexpected nature of his vocals. Close your eyes, indulge yourself in the darkness and remember Nattramn’s voice. High pitch shrieks that defined the band that is Silencer. His shrieks became influential, inspiring many depressive bands thereafter to produce the same sort of performance as the lead vocalist, though some are undecided as to whether they’re pure genius that expresses unnerving emotions in a vastly different way to the majority of vocalists, or whether his voice is simply hysterical girly in an overly emotional type of way.

I myself don’t really know what to make of his voice and considering Michael’s vocals are even more surreal, I’m doubting I will ever come to a full gone conclusion over his voice. Depending on my mood, his high pitched voice can seem fitting and on other occasions, off putting. I’ve previously mentioned his voice as being akin to the overly exaggerated power metal style of the “cheesy” bands and I stand by that claim. As with songs like ‘Mesmerising Serenades’, an aptly named song, Michael’s voice is portrayed in all the ways possible in which he chooses to distort his unconventional voice. Deathly growls, typical rasps, a hollow and haunting spoken voice and then the infamous high pitch shrieks. He has an immense ability to be able to adjust his voice to all instrumental situations. When the chaos ensues, his vocals suit the depiction. When the melody flows, his voice flows alongside it well. He is most certainly a multi-talented man, especially instrumentally. He is a fan of the unconventional which creates a more than intriguing debut for this solo project as he switches from 90’s influenced black metal, to a modern take on the form of art by expressing his ideas through insane vocals and lush melodies. However, unlike most Bayusik projects, whatever keyboards are included, they are minimal. Usually, the keyboards have a major influence over the atmosphere of his songs, but not in terms of this band, which was mildly disappointed.

As with his other projects, Night Conquers Day and Tearstained, Into The Sunless Meridian are a simplistic band at times, relying on good old double bass blasts, tremolo bass and guitar efforts and then, without warning, Michael launches into phenomenal solos alongside the dirty black metal style that made bands like Darkthrone a huge success. Michael is a real talent of the underground, though this project doesn’t always highlight that. The problem with his solo works has always, essentially, been the same. Thin guitar distortion over a dense production style which doesn’t multi-layer the music well. This allows certain aspects to disappear into the abyss of mediocrity and gives this particular project an unfinished quality which doesn’t bode well. However, as with most of his projects, Michael has an ability to be able to create some truly memorable guitar leads, clean and distorted, as with songs like the divine ‘Under Closed Eyelids’ which combines his vocal styling well. Despite the raw touches of the production, Michael is a talented man who underlines the fact that North America has some very talented musicians on the underground circuit. Though I don’t regard this band, or this record, as the quintessential symbol of Michael’s prowess, I do like it. It’s catchy, it’s different and it’s determined to abolish stereotypes.