Secrets Of The Moon has been one of those bands in recent years that has impressed me with a 'unique' style of black metal. Unique in reference to sound, feel, atmosphere. It is not that they stand out above the rest so to speak, but they just have a distinctive sound that when you hear it, you know it is them. The Tom G Warrior co-produced 'Seven Bells' is the new album, and it is a very good one.
I found their 2006 album 'Antithesis' to be fantastic. Catchy riffs, a lot of variation in tempo. Great sound, dark atmosphere. Certainly underrated. The album prior to 'Seven Bells', 'Privilegivm' was good but something was missing. Perhaps there wasn't as many memorable moments on that album compared to 'Antithesis'. Well, 'Seven Bells' has brought those more memorable moments back here.
The first thing I pick up on is the dark atmosphere. That type that is pitch black. Like wandering into an endless cave so dark you will not see a thing! There is no background noise to fill this either as the riffs have enough power in them to almost break out of the speakers you are hearing this from.
I enjoy the variations too. Reminds me a lot of 'Antithesis' the way things can be all heavy and quick before breaking down to eerie melodies. Just listen to 'Serpent Messiah' to get the idea. Speeding at the beginning to slowing it right down in the middle and making it borderline crushing with those dark melodies and repeating it this way throughout. And listen to those drums before the end the way they twirl around. It is a pretty common trait on the album to speed things up before slowing them right down. But when things do slow down and the heavy riffing is in play, it is crushing.. like grinding you into the ground.
Some of those tremolo riffs too are chilling. The way they come into the title track but also into 'Blood Into Wine' and after the crushing slowed down section just break out and speed off on their own. It almost feels subtle but they tear through that darkness in front of you. Also the way they come in towards the end of 'The Three Beggars'. Epic stuff for something so dark. Excellent drumming there too!
The descriptions may make the songs seem predictable but I don't really find that as they manage to transcend between the slow and faster moments at unexpected times. Take 'Worship' for example the way it crushes along most of the song and out of nowhere things get fast and the drum fills are going everywhere like hearing a machine gun going off in that dark cave but not knowing where it is coming from because of how dark it is. All you know is the bullets have hit you.
The harsh vocals sound so commanding. There have force and sharpness but still gritty and they don't vary much but at the right moment, they know when to change it up a little bit like the almost painful like yelling coming into 'Nyx'. Perfect time for when the tremolo riff and lead back each other up. Such an epic feel.
I don't know if it is the Tom G Warrior influence here, but this reminds me a lot of Triptykon. That dark atmosphere, that heavyness. The way the song names act as the chorus lines in most of the songs. It doesn't feel quite doom and it doesn't feel quite black either but all the elements for both are here. In the end, if I am looking for something similar to 'Eparistera Daimones' in terms of feel and atmosphere, 'Seven Bells' might just about be the closest thing to it. And that is saying a lot.
Ikil
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