Get ready for a very long read..
If there is one album I have been looking forward to for the last three and a bit years, it has been the Ne Obliviscaris debut, 'Portal Of I' (POI). I have been following them with great interest since coming across them in early 2006, even to the point of heading out to Canberra on two occasions to see them live and even flying out to Melbourne for their amazing 'comeback' gig in 2008. Definitely one of the most talented group of individuals I have come across.
Before I delve into this, I will get the 'concerns' out of the way. I will admit that my anticipation for this album had dropped a little bit over the last couple of years. Firstly, given the dramas the band faced trying to get lead guitarist Benjamin Baret back into the country, I wondered if this album would ever see the light of day. Full credit to the guys for fighting so hard and getting others behind them to get him back here.
I have to say I haven't enjoyed their last few gigs either. Not really their fault, but I didn't like the mix at all. So in a sense you wonder if the album would have a similar problem. Would certain instruments get drowned out or would others be mixed to high etc or would production overall be too mechanical sounding as can normally be the case with majority of bands who can be so progressive and technical. So happy to say that this is not the case here. For all the technicality involved here, everything still feels organic and perfectly mixed for my mind. I don't think one could ask for anything different. This feels like Opeth's 'Blackwater Park' but with more twists.
Now for the music.. How one can weave so many different elements in their style and pull it off so incredibly well is beyond me. Not just musically, but emotionally as well. This whole epic thing is practically flawless. Take the way 'Tapestry Of The Starless Abstract' opens with that black metal sound blasting away, the subtle tremolo riff in the background twisting and turning and coming off so chaotic and how it transforms into a hazy stream of distortion and the harmonizing between the clean vocals of Tim Charles and harsh blackened vocals of Xenoyr. The way it can blossom into something almost beautiful. That climatic finish. Being at the bottom of that treacherous mountain and not thinking you can get to the top, and when you climb to the top, you lift up your arms in triumph. You now feel like you are the King of the world.
This is just one example. It is a similar trend throughout but the styles and emotions change. Leads become more melodic and the violin might become the subtle element hanging in the background like it does in the early half of 'Xenoflux' while the heavy wall of distorted riffs march along and transform into something almost feeling disjointed, like something of later Blut Aus Nord. Xenoyr's vocals have taken a more deathly approach, similar to that of Mikael Akerfeldt, but their is a hint of pain in his voice. But again, their is that climatic moment when the guitars become clean and melodic and in line with the violin and out of nowhere, the skies open up and heaviness returns with a lead/solo that soars so powerfully through the air.
Like a classic album, every song on POI has its 'moments'. But even here, every member gets to have his 'moments' on this album. For me, Brendan's bass is the shining light in 'Of The Leper Butterflies'. He leads the way in majority of the song while the clean guitars and violin twinkle in the background. Sweet to hear but you can sense the darkness lurking in the background and then it hits you out of no where when that familiar wall of distortion hits you in the face and then rocks back and forth.
Then you have Tim's vocals and violin work. Where the bass plays a prominent role in 'Forget Not', it is the violin that takes command in the first half of the song, building up, soaring along. I am reminded a lot of Dirty Three in the first half of this song. His shining violin performance for me would have to be the first part of 'And Plague Flowers The Kaleidoscope' the way it twists and turns and jumps to so many levels before those walls of distortion come into the fray but even then it returns to take center stage throughout. Just listen to the way it hovers over the blistering staccato part from the six minute mark.
His vocal performance especially on 'As Icicles Fall' is stellar. The way he can make something sombre sound as though it is being laced with beauty is awesome to hear. This song almost feels like it would have descended into complete tragedy and despair, total oblivion if not for that moment as the rest of the song feels like your heart has sunk. He can certainly hit his notes and this adds so much to the bands sound. They are more than just a metal band.
With the guitars, the lead work is fantastic. I really enjoy the variation in style. Sometimes melodic, sometimes disjointed, sometimes soaring. A great technical mix of styles between black and melodic death metal but progressing to great lengths. I have to say though, the rhythm work grabs me the most. It sounds bleak and misty, but quite harsh. The back end of 'Forget Not' and the beginning of 'Tapestry...' reminds me of Astriaal. And sure, plenty of other moments bring the Opeth to mind.
Even the way Xenoyr's vocals have progressed to this album has been a joy to hear. From a rasping demon, he can emerge into a roaring beast. Sometimes with command, sometimes with hints of sorrow but always with great force. He can sound short and sharp or sometimes lets his words be drawn out and always done in a chilling manner.
And for the drumming. The odd soft touches is overpowered by the chaotic, trembling, blistering beats throughout. It doesn't rain here, it hails, but the distorted riffs help break these giant hail stones up into small particles that shower over the land.
This band will keep getting Opeth references and whilst I understand this and that is the obvious comparison, there is so much more to this band. This band has already achieved some aspects in their sound that took Opeth about five albums to get to. That is scary given this is only their first album. If Akerfeldt really pays attention to all those bands taking on the Opeth approach, I am sure he would be laughing at how much they fail to reach Opeth's level. One thing will be for certain though.. he will be keeping a close eye on Ne Obliviscaris.
Thus concludes my write up that took me twice as long to do as the albums length... Definitely will be one of my albums of the year. Congrats to them for their hard work over the years and finally getting a well deserved record deal (Code 666) which will certainly get them even more interest overseas. Impressive stuff. Enjoy..
Ikil
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