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Rating: "The Focusing Blur" closes the Vintersorganica cosmic trilogy in 2004. If "Cosmic Genesis" opened it with an extraordinary synthesis of modern black metal, progressive and seventies hard rock, the subsequent "Visions From The Spiral Generator" decidedly shifted towards the first two elements, leaving hard rock aside. This third chapter continues in the same direction, decisively pushing the characteristics and avant-garde nature to the extreme. What results is a fascinating album, where all the peculiarities of Vintersorg are pushed to the limit. However, it is also a very challenging album.
On a sonic level, there is an infinity of layers to read, as well as an infinity of sonic nuances. It is no coincidence that with this release, Vintersorg really gets close to the idea of a band in the strict sense, with Mattias Marklund on electric guitars, Steve Di Giorgio on bass, Asgeir Mickelson on drums, and Andreas Hedlund doing the rest.
The mysterious instrumental opening already promises new things, and Essence is an authentic roller coaster that unfolds through acoustic passages and vertiginous viking outbursts in Borknagar style, changes in speed, and much more. The same applies to the following The Thesis Seasons, which is notable for an excellent chorus.
Another evolution, Andreas's vocal style is also taken to the extreme (by the way, in this release he completely leaves Swedish aside), as he commits to his highest, almost shrill tones more than ever. A field day for detractors, those who can't stand Andreas Hedlund's voice, finding it too cloying and mannered.
Similar can be said for the whole album, which sketches musical trajectories very difficult to constrain. The pinnacle of all this is Curtains, something indescribable, given the alternations between black metal and a truly odd chorus, which reminds me of certain Dresden Dolls (piano base, voice in hysterical outbursts) mixed with The Chaos Path by Arcturus. There's something for everyone, really.
Still worthy of note is Dark Matter Mystery, with its dramatic chorus, mostly in clean voice, undeniably one of the most "normal" songs on the album. Then there are A Mycroscopical Macrocosm and Sharpen Your Mind Tools, the two oases of peace: the former is a modern song that favors electric guitars and a certain prog nature, very inspired and well-constructed; the latter is atmospheric and soft, sung on normal wave lines, garnished with a reassuring base of acoustic guitars and keyboards. It ends beautifully as usual.
Essentially, "The Focusing Blur" is a unique, intricate, schizoid, and genius album. Unfortunately, it's a double-edged sword: while it's a fascinating proposal on one side, it requires a great effort from the listener and more than just a couple of listens to be discovered. Definitely an album for the few.
7.5
01 Prologue Dialogue
02 The Essence
03 The Thesies Seasons
04 Matrix Odissey
05 Star Puzzled
06 A Sphere in a Sphere
07 A Microscopical Mac
08 Blindsight Complexity
09 Dark Matter Mistery
10 Curtains
11 Artifacts of Chaos
12 Epilogue Metalogue
Tracklist and Lyrics
10 Curtains (04:45)
The curtains never fall - they only rise
At the cosmic theatre
standing ovations came at the 15 billion-mark"
Blurs and vague impressions aside -
the engineer, the director
had the galaxies disposed, and then exposed
for the explorers who never took an answer for an answer
A matter of time - not space
How far linearity has permitted us to see
Outwards means backwards in a universe so vast
Stretched in time, see it commence
- a set of celestial fragments
at immeasurable expanses
How far a flicker can force itself
Through dimness, through fields of emission
The shine slowly turning red
A burgundy sense of distance
An overturned curtain call
- the velvety draperies eternally rising
into infinite blurs of timelessness
for an audience correctly dressed in
extravagant suits of flaming curiosity
The witnesses and surveyors of celestial enchantment
Hunted by distance and time
The curtain reluctantly withdraws
A prelude to the swirling drama:
creation - formation - design
or deduction - destruction - collapse
- all depending on the angle
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