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Rating: Premise: This review is dedicated to those who, like me, found in "depressive" black a means of escape from the world we live in and discovered in this immense genre unattainable emotions, capable now of lulling, now of tearing one's soul apart.
One of the greatest merits of the controversial Count Grishnackh is that he inspired an entire generation of "depressed spirits", who, giving free rein to their tormented souls, transposed atrocious emotions into music, creating some of the greatest masterpieces of the global black scene. Abyssic Hate from Australia, Xasthur, Weltmacht, and Leviathan made-in-U.S.A, and the Swedish Shining, to name just a few that have most impacted me.
In my numerous trips to and from hell, I stumbled upon these Enthroning Silence, which I still consider today one of the greatest performances of which the not-so-competitive Italy can boast on a global level.
The album dates back to 2002, but just the first riffs and the first hint of a scream are enough to throw us back six years, to that '96 that so thrilled and captivated us with the glacial gem called "Filosofem". Yes, the inspiration is clear: poor production, buried and typically "mosquito-like" guitars, compact and minimal drumming, and screaming filtered to the point of making any understanding impossible. The title-track, placed in the album in question as the opener, would not have been out of place between "Dunkleheit" and "Jesus' Tod".
The question is: can this "Unnamed Quintessence Of Grimness" aspire only to the shores reached by Vikernes' immense masterpiece? In my opinion, yes!
The mastery and maturity in mixing certain elements make it almost impossible to think it is a debut album. During the 45 minutes of this work, our fellow countrymen accompany us on a slow journey towards oblivion.
The singer's vocals seem a pale, diaphanous call from another world, the sharp riffing deeply wounds the soul.
Sudden outbursts of drumming assault and lash the listener.
The long duration of the tracks and the little variety of the riffs prolong the agony and transport us into a suspended world, making us capable of finding and seeking refuge in the abyss each of us carries inside.
Each of the six steps contained in this record brings us a little closer to the Void, to total detachment.
It is a slow torture that consumes from within.
It is the Unnamed Quintessence of Evil!
...Pray, oh you, children of a bastard world. Your dreams will not save you...
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By deathinaugust
Only "Embraced To Cosmic Infinity" and "Transfiguration Of The Triarchy" awaken the sleepy listener.
A real shame. The talent is there. We will see what they do in the future.
