MareAnd so we plunge boldly into the deepest reaches of space here courtesy of two one-man projects who very clearly have at least one eye set on the stars. ‘Sol’ is a conceptual 3 song split featuring one long track from each artist and one ambient collaboration and is every bit as involved as it seems. We are dealing with the dark depths of the cosmos here, the brief for both acts clearly to describe a journey through the blackest galactic voids – a realm bereft of humanity, graced only by the macroscopic machinations of the primordial elements of the universe.

Mare Cognitum (a.k.a. Jacob Buczarski) commences proceedings with the thirty-minute long ‘Sol Oroborus’ and sets the tone wonderfully from the get-go. Reverb-soaked drums echo in a funereal fashion as simmering synths and cavernous lead guitar usher us into the bleakest realms.

Inevitably, this tension-building opening explodes into a frenzy of blasting programmed drums and spiralling guitar work, a dizzying, finely-honed black metal assault. Buczarski’s skill with the guitar is not to be doubted, the cascading patterns here described with real precision.  Primarily, we are assailed with highly melodic, almost quasi-classical lines over ultra-fast 6/8 blast patterns, regularly switching riffs but maintaining a central intensity.

Coupled with the raspy vocal shrieks, these opening minutes of aggression are heavily reminiscent of the work of Sweden’s Dawn. Mare Cognitum however have no qualms in unleashing a variety of soundscapes from their sonic arsenal – a lengthy ambient interlude 10 minutes or so into ‘Sol Oroborus’ gives way to a dizzying escalation of searing, relentless black metal.

With echoing lead guitar describing a soaring cosmic ambience, this is without a doubt the strongest section of this entire release. It’s a shame it climaxes in a rather trite Dissection influenced classic metal riff which morphs into some skilfully executed – but out of place – death metal. A slightly confusing end to an otherwise excellent piece.

‘Spectral Lore’ are clearly working from the same brief. Again, the work of one man, theirs in an approach more steeped in dissonance, the opening passages of ‘Sol Medius’ weaving a distinctly Voivodian spell.

As the intensity amplifies, more traditional black metal elements are introduced, however the simmering discordance at the heart of the piece is never far away. As with Mare Cognitum’s track, we are also ushered into a long-winded ‘dark soundscape’ breakdown which, to be honest, is perhaps a little predictable.

I appreciate both artists are attempting to invoke the spirit of the vast emptiness of space but five minutes of holding a low synth note isn’t really doing enough on this front. Mare Cognitum’s almost identical section is also guilty of this and upon reflection, these breakdowns are way too long and feel like wasted minutes.

Thankfully, as with ‘Sol Oroborus’, some of the strongest sections of ‘Sol Medius’ occur once things kick back in – distended, doomy riffing, deep and distant vocal howls, it’s a dead ringer for some of Ruins of Bevarast’s early releases. And when the speed is increased, Darkspace – perhaps the pinnacle of ‘black hole metal’ – are brought to mind.

The collaboration between the two, ‘Red Giant’, is fourteen or so minutes of simmering ambience. I’ll be honest – I enjoy a lot of dark ambient music but this doesn’t bring an awful lot to the table. Lustmord inspired soundscapes of droning noise-ambience build slowly into a mournful flowing synth note finale but as effective as the few minutes of this lengthy piece are, it does feel a little tacked on.

‘Sol’ is an involving listen for sure. Presenting a complex array of black metal stylings over the two lengthy ‘main’ songs, it takes many sittings to fully digest the breadth and scope of the material on display here. It’s an effective soundtrack to the emptiness of space – granted, it lacks the overwhelming ‘torn apart in a vortex’ sensation of Darkspace at their most intense, but these two acts bring their own twist on what’s like to be subject to the whims of universal forces.

I guess the throwaway nature of the ambient elements grates a little at times – particularly in light of their familiarity – but this is perhaps a minor quibble. I’d have to give the nod to Mare Cognitum here insomuch as their contribution presents a more textured sonic experience (and those few minutes after the breakdown are exceptional) but really, this a very well-balanced split with a wonderfully consistent atmosphere. If you a penchant for stargazing whilst zoning out to your black metal, you could do a lot worse than check out ‘Sol’.

(8/10 Frank Allain)  

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