Insane Mytheries to Demise

Exactly a year ago I reviewed Illidiance's Damage Theory and mentioned that the band evolved from symphonic black metal to garish cyber metal over time. Subsequently getting into Nexaeon I expected a rather awkward cross pollination of sonic extremes, but the band already had their vision quite refined by that point. So dipping even further back we find Insane Mytheries to Demise, a glorified demo repackaged and released as the proper debut under the Illidiance banner after a dispute between band members forced a name change due to copyright nonsense. The awkwardness I predicted earlier is in full effect here, as no band is shifting style in such a manner without a few misfires along the way.

The reedy, marrow-leaden guitar tone draws from a rather derivative arsenal of riff constructions, with some Dark Funeral-esque blasting/tremolo misdirection chalking up a large accretion of the album proper. Even back in 2005 these guys were seriously testing the boundaries vocally, and Шкурин (Tommy Syrex) is present and accounted for with his cleans. They sound very unpolished here, however, and evoke a more Suidakra/Ensiferum vibe than the Soilwork style he uses nowadays. The harsh vocals are at times unnecessarily processed, and sound very uneven and all-consuming when they appear, nearly swallowing up the remainder of the band. It is a rather interesting aesthetic when firing on all cylinders, exhibited during the slower moments of "Melancholy of a Dying World." The mournful, brooding caterwauling along with the sinister side of the lo-fi synths is a very effective two-pronged melodic attack.

The backing tremolo swirl is pretty indicative of the standard, but the leads are more interesting. The lead guitar sounds more Dissection-inspired, cycling through streams of bombastic Gothenburg-sounding excess without losing control and deconstructing. Short intro "Dimmysterium" sort of sets the stage in this regard, riding that atmospheric lick to great effect. "...and Twillight Falls" also ties together some nifty leads with introspective piano lines and makes a strong impact despite a sub-three minute runtime. One could argue that there was more potential if these songs were re-recorded in more proper studio environs, but the murky aesthetic actually enhances a lot of Insane Mytheries to Demise's stronger qualities. Although the drums are rather pacified and dull-sounding, with the bass drum equivalent of tapping a pencil on a table. The remainder sounds reasonable, sans the vocals at points. It is honestly a pretty cohesive final product and none of the songs feel particularly sewn together in an aloof manner.

Really digging those synths as well, like on the end of "Burning Wings," which totally hails back to some second wave symphonic goodness without the pomp. The question is whether or not this humble belligerence would have sold under the band's older name (S.C.A.R.D.); which was evacuated due to the owner of the copyright being fired from the band. It sounds pretty dated, even for 2005, but somehow Insane Mytheries to Demise hints at some of the potential the band realized a short time later. Symphonic black metal fans should enjoy this, as it doesn't push the keyboards to the point of inanity, nor does it eschew proper riffing in favor of fetishized pomp. The vocals are a bit strange, but its a rather unique (if flawed) listen if you remember that it was recorded as a demo.