Presence of the Past

This excellent visionary outfit waded through a lengthy string of demos starting from the mid-90’s before giving up the ghost at the dawn of the new millennium… or it seemed that way at least as between the album reviewed here and the last demo there was a healthy 6-year gap.

No idea about the style on those demos but on the full-length debut the band have settled for an effective, nearly doom-laden form of modern/classic progressive thrash which has quite a bit to do with the vintage Celtic Frost (think “To Mega Therion”, above all) sound the delivery built around officious, heavy stomping riffage which receives its fair share of more modern gimmicks like electronic samples and ethereal, synthesized keyboards those creating fairly interesting spacey atmosphere that resembles the one achieved on Tom G. Warrior’s side-project from the 90’s Apollyon Sun, and especially the one from the later works of the Australian avant-garde wizards Alchemist.

Although this is by all means a progressive approach to song-writing, there isn’t much weirdness and eclecticism at play. The guys rely on atmosphere evocation, above all, as the music at times doesn't change much and creates an almost hypnotic effect (the 9.5-min saga “Cryogenic Journey”); at times it brings about some awesome alternating tempos (the excellent serpentine Coroner-esque “Human Form”, the only temptation at more brutal, speedier histrionics “The Sons of Tunguska”). The delivery is mid-paced at best with crushing, fairly heavy riffs which handsomely support the instilled dark oppressive mood the latter also helped by the low-tuned semi-declamatory, semi-growling deathy vocals (think early Alchemist again). The atmospheric electronic sections are perfectly embedded in the sound, also reflected in a few short instrumental variations, and there’s hardly a moment when they sound awkward or misplaced. What’s also worth of note is the lead guitarist’s involvement; this guy is a fuckin’ magician, weaving some of the finest “technicality vs. melody” pyrotechnics on the field, effortlessly switching from one side to another, the only complaint being the not very big space he’s been given for his admirable talents.

This is a very interesting take on the thrash metal idea which doesn't have a big headbanging potential, but those who manage to get absorbed by the music will not be disappointed. Absorption can be a tricky proposition here as some may be taken aback a bit by the dark undercurrents which are by no means an acquired taste, but bode pictures of gloom and depression at times. This is not the most optimistic recording out there; the guys’ agenda is not to cheer up the audience. On the other hand, they never let the gloom completely take over as the pure musical ways of expression conduct the show for the larger portion of the time regardless of the impression that the band withhold something from the technicality department.

And yes, they were holding back in terms of technicality as became evident from the sophomore, an exquisite modern progressive/technical thrash behemoth that brought a vital doze of surreality into the band’s arsenal, complicating the environment to nearly extraterrestrial (especially lyric-wise) proportions at times. They didn’t exactly bring the end of life on our planet like they obviously wanted to, but this compilation of entangled, multi-layered soundscapes was a sure mind-grabber that still remains one of the undisputable highlights on the very competitive French metal circuit. It seems as though the guys are not around anymore; who knows, maybe their infatuation with other sections of the universe and creatures not of this earth have brought them in contact with some of those.