Band:	Menace Ruine
Album:	Venus Armata
Style:	Neofolk, Noise, Drone doom metal
Release date:	October 14, 2014
A review by:	Auntie Sahar

01. Soften Our Evil Hearts
02. Red Sulphur
03. Marriage In Death
04. Soothing But Cruel
05. Belly Of The Closed House
06. Torture Of Fire
07. Venus Armata

Some of the strongest bands within the music spectrum are those that can change their style drastically without losing any momentum in the process. A recent example of this within the metal genre would be the mysterious Menace Ruine duo. These Canadians emerged from the shadows not even a decade ago with their demo and debut, hazy blends of atmospheric black metal and doom, only to make a complete 180 and descend into a more folky form of drone. 2014's Venus Armata continues in this direction, and is an absolutely magnificent release.

If you've been liking what Menace Ruine have been doing lately, chances are good that you'll be happy with Venus Armata. More or less following the formula of the band's few preceding albums, the music here is monotonous and droney, but also tinged with a distinctly bright feeling that feels inherently warm and uplifting. The music is lulling and hypnotic, the perfect "fall back and get lost" type of stuff, but thankfully the consistently amazing vocals of Geneviève Beaulieu help immensely to keep it guided and lifted off the ground, and those who find the more uncompromising nature of drone bands like Sunn O))) and Moss to be a bit much may highly enjoy Menace Ruine from this perspective.

The production on Venus Armata is a lot more airy and loose than some of the band's previous releases, which felt a little more gritty and dense. In a way, this works to embellish upon Menace Ruine's neofolk element in perhaps the best way yet, for it helps to make the music feel a lot more atmospheric and choir-like. The use of organ and bell, on "Red Sulphur" and "Torture Of Fire" especially helps to bring out an almost medieval sort of aesthetic, and many more moments throughout Venus Armata almost feel as though you're listening to these guys playing in some sort of massive, 16th century cathedral.

In short, Venus Armata is yet another triumph from Menace Ruine, and in many ways it feels like the band's fullest embrace of their neofolk side to date. The music still is extremely droney, and there are even a few more murky moments among it that hint to the band's black metal roots ("Soothing But Cruel"), but unlike a lot of the band's previous material, this album feels a lot more like folk music applied in a drone style than vice versa. Because of its distinct personality and brighter-than-average mood for its style, this is an album that I really think drone and non-drone fans alike can find something to enjoy in. A must listen for those who appreciate atmospheric music of any sort.

Go join the Venus army.