Leviathan
Far Beyond The Light

What could this "Far Beyond The Light" by Leviathan possibly be? The latest unknown EP by Wrest? A split with some negligible Black Metal band? Or maybe an album by Chris Barnes' first band? Or perhaps the release by the Turkish Leviathan? Or the Argentine ones? None of that (you only needed to know that it’s recorded for Adipocere Records). Among the thousands of Leviathans that crowd the metal world, there is also one in the lands of Sweden, dedicated to a traditional Black metal which, allow me to say, is much, much, much superior to all the other Hobbesian little monsters scattered around the world.

I should state that I am a supporter of the Norwegian school and that the Swedish one quite disgusts me, but this album is pure art; admitting that I can't call myself a true connoisseur, I can affirm with reasonable certainty that this is one of the best Black albums ever composed, alongside "Transylvanian Hunger" (two rather different albums in any case).

If the words "Swedish Black" bring to mind Marduk and Dark Funeral, forget what you’ve learned up to this moment and instead take the early-period Shining as a point of reference; they, authors of a very particular Black bordering on the Depressive, are the main source of inspiration for this guy (yes, indeed, despite the sparse info on the internet and no photo or lineup in the booklet, a French site says it's a one-man band) who, let’s give him what he deserves, greatly improves the Shining's sound by purging it of flaws. For example, the seven tracks on this album (if you want the digipack version with the bonus track) never exceed six minutes, which makes them immensely more fluid and less repetitive than the monoliths of their countrymen. However, I cannot approximate Leviathan's sound to that of Shining, even though there are many similarities: the sound of "Far Beyond The Light" is not Depressive Black, but it’s neither Raw Black, though it’s more or less halfway between the two.

Theoretically, it should satisfy fans of both, but I am sure that the former will be particularly satisfied as an unbearable sense of pain and decadence prevails over the rest. The riffing, as sharp as befits any respectable Black ensemble, strikes straight to the heart, deeply, where few other bands manage to reach: indeed, while being richer (we’re still talking about Black, mind you) than that of Darkthrone's aforementioned masterpiece, it can vaguely remind you of it, though greater instrumental technique (again, we’re talking about Black Metal) and a lesser dedication to minimalism make it infinitely more majestic and enveloping. Its peculiarity remains, in any case, the variety of riffs that range from the most ruthless blasts typical of the genre to poignant arpeggios always ready to restart the assault: while in the vast majority of Black bands, be they Raw or Depressive, the songs are based on the repetition of a few riffs, in this album slightly more complex structures are used. In one song there are many changes of tempo and melody, all in a very harmonious succession well tied together: in this regard, I would like to mention the drumming work (if it’s a drum machine, I assure you it’s not noticeable) which, compared to other Black crap, turns out to be a very technical performance. Truth be told, as a drummer, ours doesn’t do great things (and just as well, if he wanted, he could’ve gone Prog!), but he performs his role very well, showing that he knows how to move between small rhythm changes and even some sporadic countertime. Merely an accessory function for the bass, whose presence isn’t even felt, apart from some passages; in fact, one of the two guitars supplants it perfectly. The voice doesn’t reserve unpleasant surprises, quite the contrary, I liked it a lot; don’t imagine the scratches of Nocturno Culto or Ghaal, this guy’s voice is a drawn-out scream, extremely tormented, which blends well with the emotions expressed by the album.

It remains to be understood what is Swedish about this Swedish Black project: I’ll tell you, the production. But rest assured, those of you who conceive a Black album only if the guitars sound like sandpaper on a garage door because here it certainly does not disgrace: you also understand that producing Burzum clearly would make no sense, but when it comes to slightly less raw bands, a good mirage only amplifies the mood. So much suffering is received from the notes of this album, so much hatred, a curse that falls upon the listener’s head from start to finish; no happy ending, therefore, rather an adverse fate that crashes down harshly and with self-destructive glee.

An album of tragic colors, an essential album for those who love the black flame and for those who wish to approach it: it's always a shame that these releases go unnoticed in the face of works of much lower quality and intensity. Because, above all, the intensity of this CD stands out from the others; you won’t find a single disappointing song that will make you skip to the next, "Far Beyond The Light" is one of those albums that needs to be heard in its entirety and reveals itself as a path to follow according to the order of the songs. Greet it as a Black Metal masterpiece.