Band:	Elysian Blaze
Album:	Blood Geometry
Style:	Atmospheric black metal, Funeral doom metal
Release date:	June 13, 2012
A review by:	Auntie Sahar

Disc I [Arcane Throne & Mourning Star]
01. A Choir For Venus
02. The Temple Is Falling
03. Sigils That Beckon Death
04. Blood Geometry

Disc II [Blood Conduit & Void Pursuit]
01. A Blade For Twilight
02. Pyramid Of The Cold Son
03. Blood Of Ancients, Blood Of Hatred
04. Void Alchemy

Passion. I suppose that's what it's all about with these one man black metal bands: pure, unadulterated, single-minded passion. Something about the isolation from the main networks of black metal and the larger society as a whole impacts the artistic vision and strength of these bands in simply magnificent ways. It's been 6 years since Elysian Blaze main man Mutatiis has dropped an album, but right away with his 2012 offering, he shows us he hasn't merely been twiddling his thumbs all that time. The result of the past decade's creative dedication has spawned Blood Geometry, an over two hour, double disc magnum opus of all the trademarks Mutatiis has become known for that also, indeed, takes such techniques to new heights.

The first disc of Blood Geometry starts off with "A Choir For Venus," a short, yet beautiful, piano-laden instrumental that serves as a bridge into the heavier meat of the music. Right away, one will notice that Mutatiis put a lot of thought into the overall composition of this album with the spacing out of the instrumental parts. The music contains all the traits that Elysian Blaze has, up to this point, been known for: a heavy, funereal pace, simple (yet effective) percussion, raw guitars with clear, expressive leads... all enveloped in a signature cloak of eerie, sinister atmosphere. Yet this time, perhaps because of the length of the album as a whole, Mutatiis seems to be a lot more comfortable with throwing some more tricks into the mix, namely with the symphonic and orchestral elements of Blood Geometry (see especially the soft, hidden choirs and melodic piano in the middle of "The Temple Is Falling"). Much like with Deathspell Omega, the music dances back and forth between these elements and its more brutal, aggressive side according to the narrative set by the lyrics, and with this complicated, though well-executed, technique, the composition never appears bloated or overdone.

Disc 2 in many ways picks up right where Disc 1 leaves off. The melancholic ambience of "A Blade For Twilight" continues in the direction that "Blood Geometry" began, and this sense of cohesiveness throughout the album's duration only helps to reinforce its power. Then follows the real package of Blood Geometry that really makes the depth of Mutatiis's skill as a composer shine: "Pyramid of the Cold Son," and the 36 minute monster "Blood of Ancients, Blood of Hatred." Too long? Boring? Not in the slightest. Somehow, through, all the dissonance of the guitar reverb and thundering percussion, Mutatiis manages to keep the music entertaining, with everything that made the first disc fantastic coming to a peak in the second: the atmospheric mood of the piano and organs being intertwined flawlessly with the harsher side of the album at exactly the right moments, so that the music accentuates the emotion of the lyrics precisely when it's meant to. The second disc, notably, also has a lot more of a heavier, "doomy" vibe to it, almost like a more ambient version of The Ruins Of Beverast.

Blood Geometry is a lot like an opera, really. Each of the longer tracks have multiple movements to them, with a lot to take in on behalf of the listener, but it's not all unnecessary fluff and waffle. This album is by no means extravagance purely for the sake of extravagance... no, it's more like a mesmerizing, powerful tale set in ancient times, about an individual's spiritual transcendence, as reflected by the various tempo and mood shifts within the music. It's a lot to swallow, but like with any good story, the theme doesn't necessarily come immediately. This 2 hour masterpiece that Mutatiis has offered up in 2012 is creative vision taken to its fullest extent. This is art in the fullest meaning of the word. If you're armed with an open mind, and a willingness to sit through a long, but incredible musical trip, then hop to it. You will not be disappointed.

*Also, if you listen to the album, make sure you have the lyrics in front of you to read. They follow like an epic poem of sorts, and it's impossible to take in the full power of the music without following along with how said music reinforces the lyrics.