AVRÆ LVNÆ
AVRÆ LVNÆ “Nttd strl”
by Octopi Mills
Signal Rex have been good in a few things and it is suspicious. Here is something from Ecuador that begins with the greatness of a warping sound on a key that makes for a mood and haunting introduction. The black metal here is different and with a good use of melody in the instrumentation with effects coming from the use of keys and guitar passages. And throughout the album this is the strength it seems; the use of the keys in a manner to convey darker and more fantastical things over the black metal structure.After some time the structure seems to become more to show what to expect, so to say. While others of legendary status have lost steam long ago it seems some of these later variations on black metal pick up where things went soulfully mediocre.
The use of guitar overdubs in the right places and some variation makes for some interesting things here and there with the keys giving it a favorable listening experience . Vocals are atmospheric and go along with the music without trying to take it over. At moments it has a neo-classical sort of feeling in arrangement, and I see comparisons to ABIGOR and EVILFEAST by their handlers in the promotional notes. I think the use of atmosphere here with all the mentioned things before keep this album from becoming too normal and contemporary with this black metal business and it should warrant interest from those who like this sort of old style redone and perhaps refurbished in a matter that sets to par with the forerunners or at times both fall behind and exceed these deeds of yesteryear.