Decline Of The I - Johannes - review
Decline Of The I - Johannes - review
Tracklist
01. A Selfish Star02. The Veil Of Splendid Lies
03. Act Of Faith
04. Tethering The Transient
05. Dieu Vide
A review by
musclassia April 14, 2021
I'm not sure what inspired me to try Johannes; no one recommended it to me, and I've not heard of Decline Of The I previously. I'm pretty sure I just saw it whilst browsing upcoming releases on the database and decided to give it a go, but I'm very glad I made that decision, as it really is a quality record. I would say that the album is black metal first and foremost; whether it's punishing dissonant riffing propelled by blast beats or more eerie, atmospheric territory, the sound here is evil, which is only amplified by the occasional but excellent use of eerie sound effects and background choral vocals, as well as the forceful blackened gutturals. However, this is combined with compelling post-metal song structures, with effective builds in tension and atmosphere, as well as some powerful sludgier riffs. All of it together results in something quite spectacular.
"A Selfish Star" is a slow-burner of an opener, gradually shifting from eerie cleaner guitar to dissonant blackened riffing to ritualistic chanting, before taking an interesting left turn into something more psychedelic, with elliptical keyboards above a section with an almost dark jazz vibe. There's also some slow, dirgy walls of sound as the song comes to a close. These slow bludgeoning sections appear on "The Veil Of Splendid Lies", as do some horror-style keyboards, as well as one of several instances where voice samples are used. "Tethering The Transient" starts off in more blistering fashion, razor-sharp tremolo and blast beats kicking the track off before it shifts to slow blackened dirges, more atmospheric ritualistic chants, and an immense post-metal climax. These songs are inventive, varied and unpredictable, but every new turn Decline Of The I take or new element they throw in works without a hitch.
The previous few songs offer plenty to enjoy, but closing track "Dieu Vide" is really something to behold. Earlier on, the song leans closer towards a band like Obscure Sphinx with its muted yet unnerving cleaner guitar work. As it progresses, the eerie sound effects, choral vocals and sinister vibes mentioned earlier are all brought into the fray as this song traverses its runtime, but there's also atmospheric tom-heavy drumming driving an ominous build towards a blistering blackened assault. This song is almost overwhelming in how densely atmospheric and powerful it is at times; it makes for a colossal conclusion to an immense record.
Decline Of The I weren't on my radar before Johannes, but they are now; this is a creative, at times almost avant-garde spin on the concept of infusing post-metal into black metal, and one that is delivered with consistent excellence. If you like your black metal to be dynamic, unpredictable and imbued with malevolent atmosphere, Johannes is not a record to be slept on.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | 9 |
| Originality: | 8 |
| Production: | 8 |
Written on 14.04.2021 by
Written on 14.04.2021 by
Hey chief let's talk why not Comments
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 Posts: 8301 |
Posts: 8301 Quote: I listened to it when I found it in the stack of promos and immediately thought it was an album for you. But I was so certain that Radu would have already bugged you about it that it didn't even cross my mind to tell you myself. That closing track is massive.
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Posts: 410
This is their best release for sure. 9/10 for me.
---- "Nullum unquam exstitit magnum igenium sine aliqua dementia [there was never great genius without some madness]." Best of Metal A-Z: http://metalstorm.net/users/lists.php?user_id=158339
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Posts: 9648 Written by nikarg on 14.04.2021 at 01:11 I haven't bugged him about a review in a while. Good idea.
---- Do you think if the heart keeps on shrinking One day there will be no heart at all?
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Posts: 3593 Written by fuerlee on 14.04.2021 at 11:44 To be honest, I always thought that life was just one big lie, so you're not necessarily a fool just because you've seen things that are no longer there.
---- signatures = SPAM
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