IATT – “Magnum Opus” (Black Lion Records, 2022)


Half the year is already behind us, and off we go for another 6 months of Music and Reviews. This return to writing has an American Progressive Black Metal as main subject, IATT, and “Magnum Opus” is the release we aim at today.

Going through their Metal-archives profile we spot Metalcore has the band’s (previous) genre, and we go “uhm”; do I have anything against Metalcore? I do not; I simply do not like the genre… I jump right into the first track and am welcomed by acoustic guitar and violin, to which a raspier electric guitar follows. One of the things I notice is the length of the tracks: all above 5 minutes. I quite enjoy the vocals. Harsh, but with a sense of melody fairly present. We can easily find some of the band’s past heritage in the groovier parts, more “moshy” elements. The use of the saxophone makes it a bit freaky, but Black Metal has always been a genre in a constant growth and experimentation, so no surprise there.


The parts I find to be better are the ones where the band softens their sound, approaches a more melodic facet, almost symphonic, but without the Emperor and Bal-Sagoth creative line, and deliver those really cool melodic guitar riffs. I am not, as mentioned before in a different way, a fan of Metalcore, but I know where it came from, and how it is structured, and IATT has that melodic sensibility, going from hard to soft. But… some of the groove elements of the genre still remain, and that pushes me off.

Take “Elixir of Immortality” is a very good Black Metal tune. Melodic, aggressive, rasping vocals and an almost growl. Strong track. “Exculpate, Exonerate”, the following track, is much more in the line with Atmospheric, although, again, the drums bring in too much groove… it speeds up that Intro, when it should have not. But hey, my opinion. Again, the deep growl, and the more screamed singing. Another tune with a great melodic hook. These guys know how to balance these 2 sonic realities quite well. But wait… Metalcore, almost Djent guitar lines. Does it fit? Calling this Black Metal sounds a bit unfair, to be honest. It does hold some of the characteristics of the genre, yes, but it lacks others. The guitars not always sound Black Metal – which is not mandatory, of course – many times following into the Metalcore field. 

It is an interesting approach to the genre, or a fusion of sounds in which Black Metal is present, but it did not do it for me. Fans of Melodic Black Metal might find some points of interest; perhaps even Metalcore fans can relate to their sound. For those that started recently in the genre, this could be a friendly pick. Go for it, enjoy.





Liber Null – “For Whom is the Night” (immortal Frost Productions, 2022)


I came in contact with Liber Null after reviewing Corpus Christii’s latest offering and had no idea what to expect, even though this is their 2nd album. Pressed play and waited. “Nocturnal Craft” is the trio’s welcoming card if I may say. Little over 5 minutes of intense Black Metal fury. Excellent production, exceptional sound; melodic guitar riffs in the midst of all that controlled, and delightful, aggressiveness. Loved we the pace slowed down, and that guitar riff just rose above all the other layers of the tune… the calm after the storm, in this case.

From this point on, it’s just a massacre, but a good one! One of the things that caught me eye, even before the music, are the musicians that sit behind the kit, play the guitar and bass, and vocalize the energies that this connection emanates: Thorns, from Darvaza and Frostmoon Eclipse, and many others; Psaalm, also from Frostmoon Eclipse; Ades… of unknown background (to me, at least). Being in bands with confirmed quality does not mean you will be able to, outside that sphere, create good music. This is not the case. These 3 artists joined forces in 2016, and in 2022 they confirm their ability to write good Black Metal.

Mentioned before were these transitions they operate, where they go from harsh and heavy moments, to mellow and slow passages. Their sound is grandiose, you know what I mean? Big sound, big moments; very much a melodic Black Metal release, but these melodies are not weak, quite the opposite.

If we were to find the element takes lifts the music to a higher level, I would have to say the guitars. The drums are massive, and complement the guitar in the best possible way, but those licks, those riffs, those passages… ufff! Some moments resemble what the Swedish / Finnish giants do in terms of structure and melody. A song like “To Death’s Light” is a truly epic track. The variations in the vocals, the pace at which the song “races”, and the sudden breaks! Although the label Epic Black Metal does not fit the sound of the trio, a track like this is truly epic in its growth and momentums. At around 05:30 it stops; a gentle guitar riff emerges… epic.

Overall, a very, very nice album. One that might appeal to Melodic - yet aggressive enough – Black Metal fans.


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