Transgression

Another great example of the rising Swiss metal scene comes from the Basel based two men project Endark The Brightness. Keeping their two years rhythm we get the follow-up to their fantastic 2019 album “Cycle”. Continuing where they left off their third full length “Transgression” is another stunning proof of these lads’ talent and a great journey to dark yet also mystical places. Deeply atmospheric, Endark The Brightness use the black metal basics we’re all familiar with to create emotive music, weaving extensive moods and blackened tapestries with ease.

The employing of tremolo pickings among other simple but effective techniques is toned down compared to other genre works, and the guys really set the tone of the music with their impeccable songwriting and masterful balance of melody and subtle aggression. The tempo is slowed down for larger parts, but can surge up at a whim in a few moments, with stellar harmonies and torturous screams providing assistance. There are a lot of acoustic and ambient passages sprinkled over the whole album, highlighting the strongly melancholic nature of it. Psychedelic and atmospheric avenues are frequently explored, and each track and interlude is constructed with thought, imagination, and skill. The whole album is embedded in a hypnotic aura, making it easy to lose yourself within the music without noticing, and lose track of time, while listening to it. This album is for fans of immersive music who are seeking more than just a bunch of single tracks bundled together.

Endark The Brightness are throwing lengthy songs at the listener, connected via some instrumental pieces and topped off with symphonic and ambient elements, which ebb and flow between emotions and paces. The music keeps veering and twisting, seeped in melancholy through intense heavier passages to walls of drifting shoegaze you can lose yourself within. The various feelings and themes are all combined with a lush fluidity, making the flow of the album feel perfectly natural. The vocals are hovering over the driving rhythms and the mournful harmonies, making the overall package a thrilling listen. This is a hugely deep and expansive experience, and it is one that is totally immersive and enriching. The stunning marriage of extreme metal patterns with minimalist passages and engrossing post metal nuances makes up for a breath-taking listen.

The production is great, and while there might be albums with a more dynamic sound everything here is crystal clear and the overall mix feels pretty natural. This is not the kind of black metal that asks for an overly harsh production or a very compressed and modern one, as the main asset of the band is the atmosphere they are able to create. Don’t be afraid though, the riffs and blasts are still strong here. “Transgression” is a wonderful piece of metal respectively music in general and I can only recommend to give Endark The Brightness a chance. Otherwise you are missing out!