Exploring
concepts related to the writing of HP Lovecraft, his “cosmic horror” has
clearly had a profound impact on how these Frenchmen explore sound, as Al Azif
is, if anything, a cosmic journey, taking in worlds of emotion and fascination.
The works of Lovecraft are certainly nothing new to metal, having been explored
thematically before, but The Great Old Ones have a sound so vast, so dramatic in
itself that the themes are somewhat secondary to the lush execution of the
music itself.
Clearly
inflected with elements of post rock and vast ambient soundscapes, The Great
Old Ones occupy a vein not a million lightyears away from Altar of Plagues and
Fen. Al Azif is totally individual though. There’s a rich melody that flows
throughout and when it collides with the fierce shrieks and unrelenting blasts,
it’s a blend that truly makes this album. Al Azif has so much to take in like
the album centrepiece, 'Jonas' – a nine minute towering opus.
Much like
the whole album, it strikes a balance between the exhilarating and the depressive.
Al Azif has its moments of despondency but in equal measures it is combated
defiant melodic crescendos. This is a black metal album that will drag you back
and forth.
The title
track, which is the opening chapter of this cosmic tale, sets such an imposing
tone straight away. It’s this powerful atmosphere that reveals to you
immediately that Al Azif is indeed something special. With a suitably slick and
pristine production, this album simply sounds vast and beautifully airy and
ethereal. France’s black metal elite may very well have to make another seat
available at their roundtable for The Great Old Ones. While Al Azif is only the
band’s debut, it still resonates with an enlightened air and what this band do
next should be watched with an intrigued and attentive eye.
8/10
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