Which of You Have Done This?

Which of You Have Done This? is a famous phrase in the annals of literature; uttered by Macbeth, a character plagued by uncertainty, doubt and mental illness, as he reacts with paranoid fervor, lashing out towards the person responsible for summoning the visage of Banquo. It is with these feelings of uncertainty and paranoia that give rise to the ritualistic debut from Turkey’s Blliigghhtted. Featuring Ruhanathanas, Merdümgiriz and Emir Toğrul, known for their work with Yayla, Viranesir and Destroyers of History, among other projects, their debut, Which of You Have Done This?, features a single track, titled “The Lords,” which runs nearly 31 minutes.

As is usually the case with ritualistic ambient projects, Blliigghhtted’s sound takes several spins to fully sink in. Ruhanathanas has stated that the lyrical and thematic influences heard on the debut album not only summon the depravity of Macbeth, but are also held to incorporate the instability of Alexander, the protagonist in Tarkovsky’s film The Sacrifice. According to the band, the guitar lines, played by Emir Toğrul are to be inspired by Tarkovsky, while the keyboards, played by Merdümgiriz are to be centered on Macbeth. While both works focus on the uncertainty of the respective protagonists, Blliigghhtted move to subject the listener to the merging of this precariousness with the uncontrolled, the chaotic.

Which of You Have Done This? was recorded live as an improvised song, and despite the clear motifs presented, you can clearly tell this is done in one take. Starting with spoken words, blowing winds and sparse percussion, the soundscape slowly surges and sweeps until a batch of calm minimalistic keyboards combat with dissonant industrial noises. The vocals slowly move away from spoken word, becoming twisted and wailing as the music surges forward. The guitars focus on slowly moving patterns, with a discordant approach that hints at black metal but never fully develops into riffs.

The latter half of the releases sees the trio getting into a groove, with ethereal keyboard notes, bellowing ambiance and sparse guitar notes swirling together to create a trance inducing cacophony of unsettling atmospherics. Despite this, Which of You Have Done This? is an unsettling endeavor and is emotionally draining. The chaotic structuring and generally feeling of instability and uneasiness makes this a very challenging listen. Ritualistic ambiance, chaotic instrumentation and a general sense of precariousness mark Blliigghhtted’s debut album. Recommended to fans of Reverorum ib Malacht, Abruptum and the like, as this is exhausting and uncomfortable to listen to.

Written for The Metal Observer.