In Synergy Obscene

All-consuming and triumphant symphonic black metal that still has got enough grit is what we get from Suffering Souls. This is a pretty long-running project as it started in the mid-nineties as more or less complete band. After a while it turned into the creative vessel of Lord Esgaroth’s ideas and as he wanted to do things his way without any compromises he decided to become a lonesome wanderer in the void. Not being familiar with the older stuff of Suffering Souls I cannot judge how good of any idea that might have been. All I can say is that the most recent full length “In Synergy Obscene” from 2019 is an interesting take on the genre which stays pretty close to the roots but has its own twists and turns.

Nine tracks and over 50 minutes of length makes up for a hefty dose of blackened adventure. After the classic intro the first set of riffs and the snarling voice of the Lord himself kick things into gear with the title track. Additive clean and chanted vocals and bright synths lift the music and carry the weight of the lyrics, while the clean and crisp production keeps things sharp. Blast beats keep battering against your skull and atmospheric soundscapes of layered synths are setting the tone. Guitars and keyboard lines perfectly enhance each other to create a dense and immersive mood.

The next song “Inheritance of Irony” might be one of my favorites as the combination of the melodic patterns and the groovy and driving rhythms seems even more refined. One thing that becomes clear after the first two tracks is that Lord Esgaroth has meticulously planned each detail, as we are confronted with tempo switches and various different harmonies along the way. This is one of the examples where a record feels like one connected piece of music and not just single songs randomly packed together. There are a lot of ups and downs, slower and more ambient passages and some melancholic moments, taking the listener on an emotional ride.

The music here is often dark, brutal and unforgiving, but hauntingly beautiful. In stark contrast to the ferocity on display the album is full of melodic moments and softer build-ups. The keyboard injects a deep somber sense of despair amid the heavier guitars and drums, with some of the themes often serving as transition between different song sections. That being said this record is far from being overblown or overly cheesy, but heavy and intense in the first place. At its core this is pretty straight-forward black metal with a few death metal nuances and the “symphonic” element being used to add further layers to the music.

An album like this does not ask for a raw production, but a modern and transparent one. This is the case here, with the mix being more or less flawless. I am not sure if the drums are programmed or not, but in any case they sound pretty solid as well and certainly do not diminish the enjoyment. “In Synergy Obscene” is a fascinating album, and one that might unfold its magic especially when given time and enough attention. I listened to it via headphones at home and while it is far from being too heady or complex for its own good I might have missed quite a few details otherwise.