Invicta Reqviem Mass
Seventh Gathering
Well, hello there. Getting close to this year’s finest UG Black Metal gathering, are we? Oh yes, we are! I was quite curious about who would the lads in Signal Rex select for their 7th Black Mass, and what a nice bill it say, I say.
15 bands will join forces in one of Portugal’s most beautiful, and Black Metal, cities. Porto, Cidade Invicta, will once again receive the label’s annual Black Metal gathering, and let us go through the bands that will be performing. While there is still not a daily line-up, let us almost alphabetically stroll down the corridor and look at newcomers and artists that will be repeating their attendance. So here we go!
Starting off with an act composed of musicians from different geographic locations, Burial Moon. Austria, Estonia, and Switzerland, perhaps? If I may be honest, their location is what less interesses me. Musically speaking this is straightforward Signal Rex Black Metal. The hypnotic side of the music is all there, and I have only checked 2 tracks from the 4 track Demo coming out this Winter. Dragging sound, claustrophobic melodies. Everything that Signal Rex has been feeding us all these years.
What comes next has as much quality as controversy attached to it, as it has in terms of quality. From France, Cénotaphe. My friends… shall we talk music? Ok. Impressive Black Metal, period. It does have that French and medieval aroma, which is top-notch in my book; nonetheless, looking at it from non-musical perspective, they might be hanging with the “wrong crowd”, which is a NO in my book. Nonetheless, can (should we) separate the Artists from their Art and their Beliefs? You decide. Their sound? Superb Black Metal, no question. “Monte Verità”, dated back to 2020, is the band’s latest album.
And now, Spain, more specifically Zaragoza, Aragon. Empty has been a band since 1995, and still going strong. Yes, their sound has undergone some changes, which is understandable considering the number of years they have been doing this, plus the fact that band members have changed throughout the years; nonetheless, last year’s album has shown a band at the top of their game. “Omnia Amet Lorem” is a Black Metal blast, with Old School details and more contemporary melodies and overall atmospheres. And there is where the band shows its best assets: powerful atmospheres and raging riffs, the band has one foot in the Past, but their eyes set on the Future. Empty’s sound is very dynamic, slightly complex, and with plenty of depth. “The Vision that Ruined a Man”, from their latest one, showcases the band’s sound, encapsulating their sound and structure. I believe they will sound amazing live.
Shall we jump into the Portuguese Death Squad? IRAE, Mons Veneris, Redenção Pelas Chamas, Ruach Raah, Necrobode, and Voemmr. What can I say? All different, and all amazing… some more than others, but all exquisite examples of how good – and diversified – is the Portuguese Black Metal scene. IRAE and Mons Veneris are household names, and the best thing about their gigs at Invicta Reqviem Mass is that they are always special, and an opportunity to celebrate something, or present a distinct set. Mons Veneris has shown, in the Past, his Black Metal side as well as his more Electro Dungeon Synth Dark Ambient persona. It was unexpected but interesting, and at times just weird. Nonetheless, we all know what the man is capable of. What else? Redenção Pelas Chamas is another… sketchy act from Portugal’s Black Metal scene. Born in Porto, the band – that I know no more about – released their first Demo last year (“Rehearsal Tape”), and it hit me hard! their sound resembles a few French – and also sketchy – acts like Seigneur Voland and Sombre Chemin. That European & Pagan Old School Black Metal, with Autumnal melodies and cold atmospheres. There is no violent approach to Black Metal, and no ultrafast discharge, there is only melody and, at times, melancholic riffing. Sketchy as fuck, but great as hell. Ruach Raah is a favorite of mine. Black Metal with a hard DBeat feeling. Necrobode is Destruction and Bestial Worship. Hail the Goat. Death. Voemmr is an experience. Something heavy and dense. Hypnotic and claustrophobic. Slightly different, maybe unique. Recall their show at Invicta Reqviem Mass… hellish.
And back to Spain for 2 more acts: Marthyrium and Nagyszeben. The Galician trio has released what seems to be, at the moment, one of the best Black Metal records of the year. Honestly, I am not acquainted with the band, just the name, so I do not have an educated opinion on their music… therefore, let us check their latest one. I have been, for a while now, sort of “separated” from the Raw Black Metal scene and found a new (unholy) sanctuary with better produced Black Metal of bands like Sorathian Dawn, for example, with cleaner sound and majestic atmospheres and ambiences. The opposite of a band like Mons Veneris, for example. “Through the Spheres of Darkness” is quite a good record, I will give them that. Solid, dynamic, majestic, and powerful. It has heart and a harsh punch! “Beyond the Voidness of the Self” has this spacy scent, you know? not close to what Darkspace was doing, in any way, but not your standard Black Metal, until it burst into flames and all Hell breaks loose. Ok, ok. They stretch their arms and reach out to darker parts of Human Existence. This, on stage, has to be good. Still in Spain, this time Catalonia, to welcome Nagyszeben to the stage. This quartet, with connections to Beyond Death’s Throne (drummer), Prophets of Doom, and the relatively unknown Nigromancer – and if you have never listened to these lads, please go ahead, and do – have released, so far, 3 tracks: 2 in their first EP, and the 3rd one on a Split with Nightwalker – again… please go check. All these releases have published through Lucifogo Records, a fairly recent Spanish label specialized in Black Metal. Love the recording. It is not just raw, but “clumsy” at times. You can almost feel the honesty and commitment coming through the speakers! The music sounds so simple, yet greatly efficient, which is not an easy thing to do, at all. This act is very well-aligned with what I expect to see come out through Signal Rex. Ladies and gents, this will knock your socks off…
From Spain we fly off to The Netherlands, land of strange and challenging Black Metal – and music in general for that matter – for something distinct in the form of Old Tower. The Dutch project projects Dark and Haunting emotions on the listener with its ambiances and hypnotic melodies. Honestly, I do not find it interesting at all, but some of you might like it. Signal Rex has always had this side to the gathering, and it seems it will continue to. Well, enjoy.
Almost over with the artists that will participate in this year’s edition of the best Black Metal event in Portugal, and this is not me sucking up to the man, but a reality. Come see it for yourself. From The Netherlands we point our eyes and ears to a nation that endured the suffering of a civil war (1992), and maybe that is why this lad’s music sound like these, terrifying and destroyed. Returning to the festival, Osman Ramadanovic, known as O., the man behind a million projects, of which Obskuritatem is one of the most celebrated Black Metal projects associated with the Raw Black Metal / LLN Worship cene of the 2010s. I dare say that due to the number of active projects the artist has, it explains why Obskuritatem has “refined” his sound and went for a “cleaner” approach. I, for instance, have his 2017 release, “U Kraljevstvu Mrtvih…” as his best Full-length, and “Vampirska Kakofonija” as his best work. This period of his creative life was truly special, and you can hear, and feel, his anguish and despair, his screams are visceral and ripping. He had so much agony that I made his music something truly special, a sort of continuation of what Meyhna’ch did with the Majestic and Monumental Mutiilation. I remember O. ended his concert at Invicta Reqviem Mass with “Destroy Your Life for Satan”, and how it sounded, in that place, in that environment… it was destructive, emotionally destructive. With that, it is a sure thing that Obskuritatem will put forth a very special concert.
We have reached the end of the list, the last band to perform at this year’s Invicta Reqviem Mass. Again, a sketchy band, a sketchy leader, a great band. Well, maybe not sketchy at all, and clearly what people assume/know his is. The last band is Satanic Warmaster. The band’s quality is undeniable! Their Melodic Black Metal sound is very particular, one that grew beyond the limits of the band and became almost a trademark for Finnish Black Metal. Satanic Warmaster’s sound rests on Melody and piercing riffs. And let us not forget that Werwolf’s vocals are killer! If it goes through, this will be a blast of a gig.
And it is over. We went through all the bands that will
descend over Porto and spread Hell through its streets, invoking ancient demons
and playing Satan’s tunes, gathering all misfits and soulless individuals. I do
believe that Invicta’s atmosphere is a special one. It is more than just music,
and Black Metal is more than just music, even if people tend to laugh and
disdain, but it is more than just musical expression, and Invicta is a bit of
that, a bit of that underground mentality even if the underground is not what
it used to be back in the day. Anyhow, please enjoy the gathering of dark and
devilish souls.
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