Blut Aus Nord
Memoria Vetusta

Epic, melancholic, evocative, in other words, Memoria Vetusta, the second work by the French group Blut Aus Nord and perhaps the highest peak ever reached by the band in question, even though their other albums have always managed to create emotions during various listens.
Already active since 1993 with the release of a couple of demos, they debuted in 1995 with Ultima Thulee (featuring well-crafted songs always characterized by that dark epicness that has always distinguished them, although in more recent works they have moved increasingly into avant-garde and chaotic territories) and after just one year, they delivered this small masterpiece, perhaps remaining too overshadowed compared to other releases of the period, but this is somewhat the fate of artists who are too ahead of their times.

As always, I start with the production, which I would say is excellent. Guitars are absolutely perfect, so unique that they form an icy and melancholic sonic wall, always engaged in weaving an incredibly terrifying web of melodies thanks also to the (fundamental) presence of solos that are nothing short of moving! Both bass and drums play their part, delivering a performance that is nothing short of stellar, while sporadic keyboards do nothing but enhance the pathos without ever falling into the banal or pompous.
However, Vindsval's voice is nothing short of terrifying, so harsh, anguished, yet in this aspect too, there are surprises since the singer in question moves from this demonic screaming to very fitting clean vocals with what I dare say is "irritating" naturalness (recalling the style of Ihsahn of the great Emperor).
Examining more deeply, it can only be said that every single song is a gem of rare beauty; accelerations, constant slowdowns, endless surprises, there is no suitable term to describe listening to this milestone of Epic Black Metal, just a succession of shivers down the spine. Masterpieces like "The territory of witches / guardians of the dark lake" will hardly fail to leave their mark after reaching your ears, or the mystical violence of "The forsaken voices of the ghostwood's shadowy realm". Talking about individual riffs, passages, or fitting vocals would be pointless at this stage; here, it’s all about diving in headfirst.

If you love that epic flavor in black metal, you definitely should not miss this jewel in your collection, even though my advice is directed at every lover of dark, dramatic, and sadly angry sounds. However, I strongly advise against it for those who think that the epitome of epicness is that of Stormlord or Rhapsody (without taking anything away from these groups and their fans): here, forget about imposing keyboards, heroic choirs, etc... here, the epic takes the form of a snowstorm, devastating and desperate, without the slightest trace of folk-tasting clichés.
RECOMMENDED FOR FANS OF: Enslaved, Emperor, Ulver, Bathory.