Cloak Of Altering - Plague Beasts review
| Band: | Cloak Of Altering |
| Album: | Plague Beasts |
| Style: | Avantgarde black metal |
| Release date: | April 2014 |
01. Plague Beasts
02. White Inverted Void
03. Translucent Body Deformities
04. Chaos Magician Of The Abyss
05. Ash666ura
06. Into Celestial Hell
07. Altering Forever
As some of you know, I'm a shameless "Mories" fanboy. I always end up having huge expectations for all his new releases and the latest Cloak Of Altering was not an exception. The previous album, Ancient Paths Through Timeless Voids, as well as the NONE EP were turning points for this project as it showed a different side of Mories' works in which electronic elements where heavily used. It seems like Cloak Of Altering got a solid identity and could easily be separated from the rest of his projects. So how does Plague Beasts compare? Is it better or worse? Nah, it's just a bit different.
Cloak Of Altering started as an unusually melodic project by a guy whose main characteristic is being noisy and chaotic as all hell. With new releases, the electronic touches began to appear. Showing a more accessible and mellow vibe (for Mories that is) but keeping a few bursts of dissonant madness here and there. Plague Beasts acts as an obvious step as more electronic and industrial influences are thrown into the mix. This makes it more balanced in terms of combining black metal and electronics. Is it more accessible because of that? Hell no. This is in fact Cloak Of Altering's most oppressive album. It's a colossal mechanical beast.
Right from the start, a change has been noticed. The tempos are more insane than what was displayed on the previous album. The beats are out of control and faster paces dominate this time. Only the melodic synths in the background serve as a last resort in order to stay afloat during the waves of chaos. The vocals remained in classic Mories fashion with high-pitched shrieks combined with disturbingly deep growls.
Another notable change is the production. Plague Beasts has a far more muddy sound and it's more bass-oriented. To be honest, I'd prefer the production to be just a little bit brighter as it'd make some of the hidden melodies more palpable.
On a more personal note, I'm far from disappointed, yet it probably stands as my least favorite Mories work under the Cloak Of Altering name. It's an extremely satisfying listening but it simply doesn't leave me in awe as I'm used to be from his work. But please, don't let this silly nitpicking fool you; Plague Beasts remains one of the highlights of this year in terms of black metal's more out-there projects. Embrace the chaos !!
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 8 |
| Songwriting: | 8 |
| Originality: | 9 |
| Production: | 8 |
 | Written on 03.06.2014 by A lazy reviewer but he is so cute you'd forgive him for it. |
Comments
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Comments: 41
Visited by: 206 users
| mz Posts: 4774  |
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| Ilham Giant robot Posts: 5161  |
Oh oh oh oh. That sounds like something I'd like. You'll get my feedback in 24 hours.
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18276  |
Written by Ilham on 03.06.2014 at 18:09 You have no idea what you are getting yourself into. Because if you want to check out Cloak Of Altering... Then you must check out all of Mories different projects: Gnaw Their Tongues, De Magia Veterum, Aderlating, Seirom, Mors Sonat....... But yeah, I'm curious to know what you think of this. Also, make sure to check out the previous full length as I consider even better.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress Elite Posts: 5941  |
Quote: Yep, pretty much how I feel about it. Definitely can see how this songwriting wears Mories the fuck out after a while, as he told us at Roadburn. Great review, took ya long enough 
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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| Ilham Giant robot Posts: 5161 |
Written by X-Ray Rod on 03.06.2014 at 18:14  Yeah, those are in my list, so much to catch up :/. I might give you the freshest and unaltered opinion, since I have no idea what all this sounds like yet  .
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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18276 |
Written by Guest on 03.06.2014 at 18:47 So we get the holy triology of good things: Sex, pizza and Mories' records.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18276 |
Written by Guest on 03.06.2014 at 19:16 You fuck and eat a huge pizza while listening to Mories? You sick fuck. Wonder if I can find a girly kinky enough to have some of Mories' records in the background during sexy times. Judging by my circle of friends and acquaintances, only Seirom would do... Which ain't bad anyways.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
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| Lit. Account deleted |
Lit.
Account deleted  But yeah, I guess I'll give this a shot, too. I listened to NONE a bit ago and remember being hugely impressed, even more so considering I didn't care for the GtT material I dived into.
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| Ilham Giant robot Posts: 5161 |
Written by X-Ray Rod on 03.06.2014 at 19:19 It's almost as if you called my name.
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18276 |
Written by Ilham on 03.06.2014 at 22:23 There's surely an anagram for your name in that post. :3
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| Ilham Giant robot Posts: 5161 |
Written by X-Ray Rod on 03.06.2014 at 22:26 I came up with one, but it's too easy/silly.
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| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress Elite Posts: 5941 |
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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| Karlabos Meat and Potatos Posts: 5658  |
---- "Aah! The cat turned into a cat!" - Reimu Hakurei
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| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress Elite Posts: 5941 |
Written by Karlabos on 04.06.2014 at 18:10 1. De Magia Veterum 2. Gnaw Their Tongues 3. Aderlating 4. Cloak Of Altering 5. Seirom I thought it was just those five
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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| Karlabos Meat and Potatos Posts: 5658 |
Written by Auntie Sahar on 04.06.2014 at 19:05 I understood. I just linked his profile to show that even with Mors Sonat it isn't just six =)
---- "Aah! The cat turned into a cat!" - Reimu Hakurei
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| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress Elite Posts: 5941 |
Written by Karlabos on 04.06.2014 at 19:09 Ah, didn't catch that link for a second. Damn, bastard's prolific as fuck
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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| Daggon Underpaid M.D. Posts: 1689  |
After reading your review and the comments above, I feel like I've been missing a whole world of music. I'll be checking the music of this Mories you keep talking about, seems like punish myself for not listening to this before, then again, Mr. Doctor always recommends great music. By the way, I had sex while listening to Electric Wizard's "Dopethrone" once, it was awesome, still I can't imagine having sex while listening to Black Metal hahaha.
---- "Les vers savent qu'ils n'ont pas d'ailes, c'est pour cela qu'ils se cachent sous terre"
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| tea[m]ster Au Pays Natal Contributor Posts: 5245  |
Hey Doc, would I dig this? Worth my time checking out?
---- rekt
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18276 |
Written by Auntie Sahar on 04.06.2014 at 18:06 Written by Karlabos on 04.06.2014 at 18:10 Not all of them are active though. Let's count: Astral (NED): Not active, only two demos back in the 90s. They are actually available for free in his bandcamp page. Cloak Of Altering: Active The Nefarious Cult: Not active. Only one demo. This wasn't any one man band though. He played with some other dude. De Magia Veterum : Active..... Well, that's what I think! Metal Archives listed it as disbanded this year! I hope that ain't right. Dimlit Hate Cellar: Only one EP back in 2004. This is apparently the original name before Mories changed it to Gnaw Their Tongues. Gnaw Their Tongues: Active. Pompidou: I can't find any info of this project so I assume it's an old one that doesn't exist anymore. Aderlating: Active. Worth mentioning that this is another project where Mories is not alone. He works with a dude called Eric Eijspaart. Seirom: Active Mors Sonat: Active. This is the third active project that I know in which Mories also works with someone else. In this case it's Nekrasov, who plays in a one-man ambient BM with the same name. So... Yup 6 active projects. He works alone in 4 of those. If we include De Magia Veterum that is.... I really hope MA got it wrong.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| Tristus Scriptor Rancid Reviewer Posts: 293  |
Fanboy here as well. I don't think the man can disappoint me. The type of honest and bewildering expression he pulls off can only be summed up like stated: Similar, or different. I just find that as long as he puts effort into it, being that it is truly "artsy", there's a vast area in which he can explore while remaining top-notch, respectable, and brilliant. My OPINIONS. (I said that because a lot of time on here if you state something in too factual of a way, no matter how positive or correct, someone will stab ya in the groin with a red-hot poker...) Hail Mories and all his projects!
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| mz Posts: 4774 |
Written by tea[m]ster on 04.06.2014 at 20:59 Since he did not answer this, I'm going to say No. You probably would not like it. It's chaotic and intense, with a lot of weird electronic touches. But anyway, give it a chance, it will take you just 5 minutes to see if you dig it.
---- Giving my ears a rest from music.
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18276 |
Written by tea[m]ster on 04.06.2014 at 20:59 My answer will differ from mz a little bit. This particular album might be a bit too much for you but I STILL recommend you to check some stuff because it is unique. Their previous album is less abrassive. Let's put it this way: Listen to this song (good headphones a must tbh). If you like what you hear: Feel free to go nuts with this project.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| Ilham Giant robot Posts: 5161 |
I told you I'd give feedback. I understand why it's good. I can hear it. I love the industrial aspect. I like incredibly fast beats. But I can't seem to be able to like them all together . I got tired after 20 minutes. Not giving up on this guy, as it looks like he became the Lady GaGa of metal.
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18276 |
Written by Ilham on 08.06.2014 at 03:31 Heh I was actually about to quote you and ask you if you heard it. Well I'm glad you could appreacite it. He does have many different projects as you know already so yeah. Don't give up on the dude. Also, not even this project. Check out the previous Cloak Of Altering album as I consider it more balanced. The NONE EP is also great as it goes more in the electronic side of things rather than being too brutal. The 2011 album, The Night Comes Illuminated With Death. Is also very different since the project didn't really have a solid identity so to speak. It has many symphonic influences together with the dissonance.  Thanks for checking it out!
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| mz Posts: 4774 |
I'd say go for aderlating first. If you like that, it's would be easy to assume that you will like anything else by this man.
---- Giving my ears a rest from music.
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18276 |
Written by mz on 08.06.2014 at 13:17 Depends of the person. I for one disagree with this completely. It doesn't really represents all the aspects of Mories' music. I'd say Gnaw Their Tongues is his more rounded up project covering most of the bases his other projects specialize in.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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