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Kevel - Mutatis Mutandis review



Reviewer:
8.2

32 users:
7.91
Band: Kevel
Album: Mutatis Mutandis
Style: Post-metal, Progressive sludge metal
Release date: October 23, 2020
A review by: musclassia


01. Of Being
02. Terraforming
03. The Apophatic
04. Arecibo
05. Cosmic Domination
06. Utopia Planitia

"Post-black" has always been something of a nebulous term, one that means different things to different people. Some consider it to simply refer to bands that have evolved beyond the origins of black metal, such as Oranssi Pazuzu or Ihsahn's solo work, in the same way that post-punk was a departure from the simplicity of punk rock; others use it to describe blackgaze bands such as Deafheaven, whilst others still (myself included) imagine it to represent a fusion of black metal with post-metal. If one were to consider "post-black metal" to be black metal with explicit post-metal elements, there are few bands I can think of that have combined the two sounds as naturally and as adeptly as Kevel have on Mutatis Mutandis.

Greek outfit Kevel didn't rush to follow up their debut record Hz Of The Unheard, with them taking six years to drop sophomore effort Mutatis Mutandis. In the interim, they have joined the roster of I, Voidhanger Records; those that heard the debut record may have been surprised by this move, given the reputation of said label for putting out metal on the more extreme and avant-garde end of the spectrum. Hz Of The Unheard is described on Kevel's Bandcamp page as an instrumental prog sludge effort, which a quick listen seems to confirm; decent as the album sounds (and it does have fairly obvious rough edges), it doesn't exactly scream "I, Voidhanger". However, the label obviously saw potential, and have been rewarded with what is a seriously impressive step forward from the group on their sophomore album.

The first thing to notice about the difference between the debut album and Mutatis Mutandis is the guitar tone. Hz Of The Unheard was a sludge record and had the dirty sound to go with it; in contrast, even when the songwriting is sludge-inspired, the guitar tone on Mutatis Mutandis is blackened throughout. Beyond the conventions of black metal guitar such as harsh tremolo riffs, the guitar sound has that creepiness that is ubiquitous in the genre; listen to the malevolent clean guitar tones early on in "Of Being" (under which the drums goes on a jazz-inspired frenzy), or the chord choices in the riffs when the song intensifies. Beyond the blackened aesthetic to the music, "Of Being" alternates between rampaging sludgy riffs and murkier dirges, all whilst giving Thanasis Politis a heck of a workout on drums.

"Of Being" is more of a blackened sludge track; "Terraforming" sees some of the post-metal elements that existed on Hz Of The Unheard begin to make themselves known, going from a spacious, atmospheric opening with tom-heavy drumming into a fierce blackened riff, before then gradually slowing down and thickening the sound through the rest of the first half of the song. After all these powerful, huge blackened sludge riffs, the song cuts out, and the second half of the song features atmospheric percussion, spacious clean guitar and sound-filling synths gradually layering and layering, building and building for several minutes before the same fierce blackened riff is revisited. Probably the easiest comparison for this track in terms of bands is earlier Regarde Les Hommes Tomber during their most atmospheric moments. Although the extreme riffs that the band deliver are so good that songs lacking these sonic contrasts (such as "Of Being" or "The Apophatic") don't suffer, Kevel are adept at effectively creating powerful atmospheres during these quiet stretches, which are also utilized on the likes of "Cosmic Domination" and "Utopia Planitia" to great effect.

Backing up a stellar artwork with a quality sound, Kevel mix black and sludge metal masterfully on Mutatis Mutandis and reap the rewards, utilizing post-metal influences in a highly satisfying manner on the longer tracks whilst still ripping hard on the more all-out aggressive tracks. The whole album is of both similar style and quality to Regarde Les Hommes Tomber's finer material, and anyone who knows how much of a fan of the French group I am will recognize that to be strong praise. Kevel have taken a big leap forward in the six years between albums 1 and 2, turning themselves from an unrefined band with raw promise to the real deal.


Rating breakdown
Performance: 9
Songwriting: 8
Originality: 8
Production: 8





Written on 08.12.2020 by Hey chief let's talk why not


Comments

Comments: 9   Visited by: 80 users
08.12.2020 - 13:56
RaduP
CertifiedHipster
Staff
If only I was a couple of minutes quicker in submitting my review
----
Do you think if the heart keeps on shrinking
One day there will be no heart at all?
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08.12.2020 - 14:06
Rating: 8
musclassia
Staff
Written by RaduP on 08.12.2020 at 13:56

If only I was a couple of minutes quicker in submitting my review

Indeed
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12.12.2020 - 14:39
nikarg
Staff
[rant mode: on]
For me, post-black metal is a fusion of black metal with post-metal. Oranssi Pazuzu or Ihsahn are avantgarde black metal acts pushing the black metal sound and style forward. Deafheaven is godawful hipster metal and mentioning their name and black metal in the same sentence can only be taken as a (bad) joke. Opinionated, I know, but I have no clue why having annoying old-witch shrieks is enough to automatically place a band in the black metal category.
[rant mode: off]

This one is a good post-black metal album. And they are Greek too, I had no idea. Thanks for the review.
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12.12.2020 - 15:35
Rating: 8
musclassia
Staff
Written by nikarg on 12.12.2020 at 14:39

[rant mode: on]
For me, post-black metal is a fusion of black metal with post-metal. Oranssi Pazuzu or Ihsahn are avantgarde black metal acts pushing the black metal sound and style forward. Deafheaven is godawful hipster metal and mentioning their name and black metal in the same sentence can only be taken as a (bad) joke. Opinionated, I know, but I have no clue why having annoying old-witch shrieks is enough to automatically place a band in the black metal category.
[rant mode: off]

This one is a good post-black metal album. And they are Greek too, I had no idea. Thanks for the review.

Disagree on the Deafheaven part of the rant (maybe 5 years ago I might've agreed), but otherwise that's what I think
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12.12.2020 - 16:27
Rating: 8
Troy Killjoy
perfunctionist
Staff
Deafheaven: blackgaze
Oranssi Pazuzu: psychedelic black/avant-garde
Ihsahn: progressive black

At least that's how I see them. Something like post-black I think should apply to the likes of Panzerfaust, with a massive atmosphere created by its dissonant repetition and slower paced, ominous mood setting.

If Kevel sound anything like that then I already know this will get an 8+ from me.
----
"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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12.12.2020 - 17:14
Rating: 8
musclassia
Staff
Written by Troy Killjoy on 12.12.2020 at 16:27

Deafheaven: blackgaze
Oranssi Pazuzu: psychedelic black/avant-garde
Ihsahn: progressive black

At least that's how I see them. Something like post-black I think should apply to the likes of Panzerfaust, with a massive atmosphere created by its dissonant repetition and slower paced, ominous mood setting.

If Kevel sound anything like that then I already know this will get an 8+ from me.

Pretty much how I look at it. This one has different vibes to Panzerfaust, and it's not quite as good as their album from this year (which is excellent), but I would imagine you will enjoy this too.
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25.10.2023 - 20:02
Rating: 8
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
Contributor
Here's another album I should have picked up on sooner, but better late than never I guess. This is a great album, it has a terrific tone and sound quality, excellent drumming, and great riffs. The last track probably stands out most for me. Another great review by the way
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25.10.2023 - 20:53
Rating: 8
musclassia
Staff
Written by AndyMetalFreak on 25.10.2023 at 20:02

Here's another album I should have picked up on sooner, but better late than never I guess. This is a great album, it has a terrific tone and sound quality, excellent drumming, and great riffs. The last track probably stands out most for me. Another great review by the way

On a post-black spree I see yeah this album is great, although my listening of it has been less than it should be due to Panzerfaust/Decline Of The I taking priority when I'm in that mood
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25.10.2023 - 22:03
Rating: 8
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
Contributor
Written by musclassia on 25.10.2023 at 20:53

On a post-black spree I see yeah this album is great, although my listening of it has been less than it should be due to Panzerfaust/Decline Of The I taking priority when I'm in that mood

I am indeed this album in particular has been a great find, this year's Cursebinder is the original culprit for setting me off on this spree.
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