For those not already in the loop, Aelter is the solo project of Blake Green, half of the terrifying violin-infused doom duo, Wolvserpent. Their last release, Perigaea Antahkarana was one of the great underground releases of 2013, and firmly cemented their place as one of the most exciting new extreme metal bands out there. While Aelter share the same meditative aura as the main group, the music is radically different. Instead of droney chords of cacodaemoniacal ghastliness, phantasmal synths and guttural vocals, Aelter opt for a more ambient and acoustic approach to their music.
“Love Eternal” carries on from where the last record left off, but at the same time, progressing and adding new elements to make for a compelling listen. On this release, Aelter have expanded their sonic palette further; instead of atmospheric choral vocals that coloured the previous releases, Blake channels the baritone of Michael Gira of Swans fame pretty impressively here. The songs are less linear and more straightforward than before, even borderline catchy. The chord structures and brooding, delicate and meandering guitars remind me of 90’s slowcore legends Red House Painters. The title track of this record is the most impressive, but to be honest the best way to experience these five tracks is to listen to them back-to-back and let them wash over you.
Aelter may be indulging in a little less envelope-pushing Wolvserpent, but they are nonetheless well worth a listen. Even though I prefer the earlier works by the group, fans of the aforementioned bands as well as Nick Cave will be interested in checking out this release.
