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Darktrance > Pessimum > Reviews
Darktrance - Pessimum

Grey landscapes - 72%

Daemonlord, May 19th, 2014

Darktrance is the project of sole member Deimos (also of Cold Resistance and Dargoth), a Ukrainian dark metal band which was created in 2007. ‘Pessimum’ is the projects third album, purveying a twisted brand of doomy dark metal that brims with mood, whilst not being afraid to kick out the black metal riffage when the carnal need is required.

“Anthem of Melancholy” opens the album with a clean, echoing guitar slowly ringing out, before slowly building into a crescendo of gradually churning guitars and spacey, spooky atmospheric keyboards. It’s at this point when the deranged vocals kick in, and I’m pleasantly reminded of early Bethlehem, and also of Marco Kehren’s Deinonychus. Great chunks of Forgotten Tomb like melodies ring throughout the chiming guitar work, as the vocals suddenly change to a clean, smooth tone, before switching to a guttural bellowing style – the guy certainly has decent range to play with for sure, and maximises each differing styles potential alongside the fitting musical accompaniment. The title track “Pessimum” broods with an uncompromising and unrelenting atmosphere which pervades the listener with chugging persistence, occasionally even picking up speed to rattle into a gnarly blackened blast beat or two. “Day X” is filled with staccato, shimmering guitars, chopping and stuttering throughout, bouncing from one speaker to the next so as to confuse and hypnotise. This coupled with the cleanly orated lyrics gives off a great, uneasy aura to the track. “Rejection” is filled with an evil vibe, made so by an abundance of sick barked vocals, and an array of discordant guitar work and feverishly nauseating bass work that poisons every second of the track. Finishing up with the longest song on the album, the 8 minute plus “Last” has an epic vibe about it, telling a musical story which at times even comes across as being uplifting in comparison to the rest of the album, even with all the minor key abuse throughout.

In all, there are just over 65 minutes of music to absorb here. So similarly to a lot of doom and dark metal, this isn’t something that can be thrown on in the background if you’re wanting to maximise enjoyment by sucking out every last drop of atmosphere by giving it the time to sink in. I had to have a few intensive listens before it fully clicked, as I found listening at work or on a car journey when my mind was elsewhere, it just wasn’t being allowed to unfurl its tentacles so as to burrow its hook-like barbs into my brain to allow its venom to spread!

There are a lot of great ideas here which are pulled off impressively well more often than not. The atmosphere is in abundance thanks to the great yet subtle keyboard work, and the chugging heavy guitar work (in a clear, crisp production that allows even the faintest of nuance to be picked up from the simplest of guitar lines). Personally the thing that makes this album for me is the aforementioned vocals. When singing clean, Deimos captures your attention like some twisted Gregorian monk, and when breaking every chain of sanity and fully letting loose, the harsh vocals really do sound brilliantly unhinged. This is a must for dark metal enthusiasts.

Originally written for www.avenoctum.com

The Genuine and Pure Human Soul - 80%

Depersonalizationilosophy, June 11th, 2013

Right from the beginning as the desolate isolated guitar strum takes the night, you’d expect something along the lines of atmospheric or depressive/suicidal black metal, but instead your ears are treated to something entirely different. Alternatively, it doesn’t mean to be your normally-geared black metal, but more progressive, post-black metal if you will. If that isn’t enough to stumble your way along the impending terrain, he finally manages to knock you down with his vocal choices. Shouts and semi-screams like what you’d expect from either a hardcore or post-hardcore band, more so the latter. Also, beautifully well-kept cleans that rival the gentle breeze on a warm sunny day. All this layered with subtle soundscapes both atmospheric and electronic-alike. It might sound like I’m describing a collection of unwanted baggies at your local Goodwill, but Dmytry Gubsky plays all these elements well. It’s not your usual cup of black metal, but it’s very innovative. If you can sit back and enjoy Ihsahn definitely be open to accept Darktrance into your life.

At surface value, this could be a degenerative piece of work. I don’t think this is an album you can just play loudly without earphones of any kind and think this is good or excellent. I think you have to sit down and think it through, dissecting it little by little. Find your inner peace and really dig through the concept before you. Try to see eye to eye with Gubsky and feel what he meant from each note to each simple rhythm that is crafted from his vision. I can’t help but feel there’s an underlying giant under the physical representation “Pessimum” brings. If you listen carefully, you too can sense a futuristic vision of a man with a dream and undying talent. Unimaginable scenery twisted as humanly as possible to show us the pores of man’s capabilities.

I don’t know if my tastes are showing, but even though I never personally met the guy I feel I can relate somehow, I can’t explain it. I understand each note. It comes easy to the ear but so abstract at the same time. I feel an uncanny presence-graceful, but filled with hidden pain. “Pessimum” has a genuine soul, a heart beating with the intent to reach out and explore.

Originally written for www.metal-temple.com