Beyond the Mortal Gate

God, does Mike Rekevics ever come off like a busy man. He's probably best known for being one half of the experimental USBM act Yellow Eyes, but also drums for naturey USBM mainstays Fell Voices and Ash Borer (the later in a live capacity). Not only is he also part of the new breakout melodic black metal act Vanum, but you can find him hitting the skins in a variety of different groups. Mike isn't only a hyper-prolific drummer in the black metal scene, he also dabbles in other instruments. Vilkacis is his one man black metal effort, and he does an admirable job at it. Vilkacis kind of comes off as a melting pot for the various bands he's played in, but doesn't really sound like any individual one of them. Beyond the Mortal Gate is all about atmosphere, but retains a raw and enveloping feel.

Mortal Gate is a fairly raw endeavor, but it doesn't sound grim or static-y like a lot of bands that would employ this production. If anything, Vikacis sounds warm. The subtle leads in the background over trebly waves of distortion cultivates a surprisingly pleasant atmosphere. I don't know how many of you know his other band Vanum (you should - they're great), but the way Beyond the Mortal Gate operates as a slow-burn of tasteful black metal melody really reminds me of them. However, the vibes are totally different. Whereas Vanum have a big, full production and almost feel like a panoramic view of the aftermath of a bloody battle, Vilkacis are more subtle. The album's themes draw heavily on spirituality, and this vibe is also very present in the music. The thin waves of subtly melodic tremolo remind me a lot of the QCBM scene, and the way that this very slowly builds atmosphere is reminiscent of the more atmospheric side of the Ukranian black metal scene.

Mike is a killer drummer and that's on full display in Vilkacis as much as it is in any of his other bands. But how does he stack up as a multi-instrumentalist? Very well, actually. He's not a very flashy guitar player, but he is readily competent. He has a strong command of tremolo riffing, and his biggest skill on guitar is his ability to slowly build atmosphere. His bass playing is good, even if it doesn't play a large role in the sound. HIs rasps perfectly fit the vibe of the music, and I love how he sometimes breaks out in something approaching a death growl. They're very low in the mix, but sometimes you'll get chanting vocals in the background - this is a very nice trick, I didn't even notice them the first few listen but it helps build the atmosphere in an extremely subtle way.

Mike Rekevics is a very busy man. I can't even fathom being as prolific a musician as he is. Not only is he seemingly behind the kit in every other USBM band, but he takes a very good stab at the one-man black metal band thing. Has he found a way to operate without any sleep? Has he discovered the real life version of that super-human drug in the movie Limitless? Perhaps we will never know, but what I do know is this is great. Keep up the good work, Mike.