Gangrene

Mirrorthrone is yet another solo project by Vladimir Cochet, only this one stresses the symphonic aspect more so than the others. Some regard Vladimir as a musical genius, and I'm inclined to agree. This man operates on a level of musical thought and comprehension well above the typical musician, and nowhere was it shown more than Carriers of Dust. While I don't believe Gangrene is definitively better than Carriers, I do believe it stands on equal ground.

For those new to Mirrorthrone and Vladimir, prepare yourself for round after round of truly dismal and hateful symphonic black metal intent on showcasing the ugliest possible side of humanity. The themes listed under Mirrorthrone's page here are quite accurate. Dismay, the opening song, reveals how truly hateful this guy and his music is towards mankind. The lyrics and music do admirably in establishing the sick, hopeless atmosphere which remains consistent throughout the entire album.

The immediate improvement that comes to mind is the drum programming. Yes, Vladimir programs all drum sections on this album as well as his other projects. His experimentation and learning since Carriers has clearly paid off, the drums actually sound as if they “could” be human performed the majority of the time. Also staying consistent with other Mirrorthrone albums is the guitar work. While the production has definitely improved, the intricacy and abundance remains. Most often they're heard in the form of sharp, heavy riffs, though not quite crushing. No One By My Side and So Frail showcase them the best.

Keyboards, synthesizers, and pianos play a much larger role in Gangrene compared to the earlier albums, and Vladimir's aptitude with these instruments has grown as well. All of the English written songs open up with a short yet beautiful piano piece, lasting just long enough to satisfy the listener while not becoming an annoyance. Though rarely standing alone, the keys and synths act as a constant, underlying layer of each song, blending in such a way as to not outshine any other instrument.

Vocals border in overabundance, and it's a consistent aspect of Vladimir's music that can become tedious at times. Scanning any given track on this album shows immense lyrical saturation. This isn't always a bad thing, especially with songs such as Dismay and So Frail where the lyrics are fairly understandable, but if you aren't familiar with the French of 4th and 5th songs it may feel slightly overwhelming. Vladimir's vocals are the same great style as with Carriers and Wind, those disgusting growls and gurgling death-oriented shrieks, complimenting the feel of each song extremely well. He also offers several clean sections throughout the album, most notable being the intro of So Frail.

Alright, so despite the clear improvements in all fields of musicianship on Gangrene, the same problem is persistent here as is on every other Mirrorthrone album. There's simply too much going on in any given song, with the exception of So Frail, and not enough variation in tone. To elaborate, the keys and drums sound as if they're on the same pitch level, and the vocals and guitar on their own too. If the listener turns away for even the briefest of moments it's possible to lose track of the song's identity entirely, and instead be swept up in this wall of sound.

Still, Mirrorthrone and Vladimir offer some of the better solo black metal you'll find. The musicianship, songwriting, and composition are simply fantastic despite the threat of death-by-sound-wall. The definite winning song of Gangrene is So Frail, showcasing the absolute best of Vladimir's abilities. If you're one for solo projects, misanthropy, symphonic black metal, and exceptional music, Gangrene is worthy of your time.