I listen to a lot of Black Metal, and through doing these reviews I hear a lot of different styles, so it’s not a surprise that I love the absolute hell out of this album. I could leave it there, however my editor would yell at me though and I don’t want that. But I have good news for him because I am about to write a positive review about how Aegrus are getting all up in their influences and how they do it is somewhat refreshing. As I listened to Invoking the Abysmal Night I was struck by the subtle dynamics that Aegrus are bringing to the Black Metal table.
Opener and title track “Invoking the Abysmal Night” is an outright blaster and opens things up in a positive way. It propels the album and gives a glimpse into the future of your eardrums, as the merciless beating they’re receiving tears them apart. Second track “Followers of the False Prophet” is a Dissection dripping burner, like fiery gasoline dripping from a torch in the forest, it creates an evil miasma of unease before the Hardcore Punk infused “Through Devil’s Breath” a 3.56 minute slice and dicer, the opening riff that permeates and worms it’s way into a pummeling stomper of balls to the wall blasting and Hardcore fury.
The stellar production needs to be mentioned because without it this might’ve ended up being just a mediocre Black Metal album. I mean, it’s their fifth full-length release and I want to hear more, so a deep dive is in my future. But your future, constant reader, should include Aegrus. “Temple of Ardent Worship” and “Nocturnal Rites of Faust” prepare you for the one-two punch of “Those Who Hide from the Light” and “Where the Forest Emanates Death”. And then it’s over and you hit play again, and again.
Aegrus remind me of the of the Punk side of Watain, F.O.A.D. era-Darkthrone. But within that is a cold burning flame, and that’s where Dissection and Taake and Carpathian Forest live, in the murky darkness below. Aegrus has captured Satan by the tail with Invoking the Abysmal Night, there’s enough interesting things going on that it keeps you on your toes wondering what’s next. So, I recommend this one, constant reader. Great Black Metal for the coming Winter.
