SPECTRAL LORE
SPECTRAL LORE "11 Days"
By Dr. Abner Mality
I can always make time for SPECTRAL LORE and Ayloss, the man behind the project. Everything I've heard by them is interesting and they are quite prolific. "11 Days" is the latest SPECTRAL LORE and is described as an EP. An EP that lasts 40 minutes, longer than a lot of albums? Apparently that's the way Ayloss looks at it, since his full LPs usually last 70 minutes if not more.
There has always been a dichotomy in SPECTRAL LORE's music...a contrast between extremely heavy and intense metal and a much calmer, more ambient side. Both parts are in full and almost equal flower here. "11 Days" boasts 4 long songs...two ragers and two more introspective tunes. The album also deals with the Mediterranean migrant crisis...something new, as past SPECTRAL LORE releases have been very abstract and philosophical.
First cut "Moloch" is the best on show here. It's based on propulsive, constantly surging heavy riffs that seem quite simple at first, but which subtly mutate over the more than 11 minutes of the song. Ayloss' lead guitar work here is very psychedelic and compelling. The forward thrust of this song is incredible. "Fortitude/Sunrise" brings the more synth-based ambient side to the fore, focusing first on the sounds of the sea and gradually building in tone. It's not "heavy" in the usual sense, but has a lot of darkness to it. The longest track is "Adro Onzi" and this is a screaming blast of blackened death for almost its entire 13 minute length. It's quite exhausting and rather fatiguing to listen to, as there is no let up to the mayhem. I suspect this is by design, as Ayloss is musically telling the story of a migrant fighting for his life against the raging sea.
"Tremor/Kalunga Line" ends the EP with SPECTRAL LORE at its ambient best, starting very quietly and gradually building through layers of shimmering synth until a triumphant climax is reached. This song rewards the patient listener.
This is not the greatest SPECTRAL LORE I have heard, but it is great. This band continues to set an extremely high bar and meets it every time.