How long should an artist wait before releasing a new album? Is a consistent output merely the result of quantity over quality or is it a feasible expectation to demand new music sooner. If we look to the past and as an example the works of Johann Sebastian Bach the musical output of the time was extremely vast, and yet this seems to be an attainable feat once again as we enter the digital age. With almost everyone having access to some sort of even primitive recording equipment and with the likes of Bandcamp anything can be recorded and put forward as music, thus making the average two year wait between releases seem a touch excessive, without taking into consideration touring of course.
With that out of the way and yet the idea still fresh we are presented with Escotrilihum’s second full length output for 2018 Inhüma. The follow up to Pandaemorthium (Forbidden Formulas To Awaken The Blind Sovereigns Of Nothingness) and once again released through I, Voidhanger Records. Can this solo acts bizarre curator of Blackened nastiness stir the minds of listeners for a second instalment in the same year. I would at least praise this as a brave feat and yet with my introductory paragraph in mind I welcome a greater output from bands, especially when like Escotrilihum the project is entirely solo.
A thick Lovecraftian fog settles amid a ghastly landscape revealing sordid horrors and abstract silhouettes of unholy divinity. Asthâghul wastes no time in mapping out the ethereal ruins from his previous creation. Vile waves of Experimental Blackened vomit cascade from the maw of the stars as the Death Metal infused hues of Incursus Into Daeth Hausth entwine with with oddities ranging from Bestial to Symphonic a truly mind-altering yet fresh take on modern Black Metal that stays true to Escotrilihum’s brief. Whilst each song tends to be on the longer side of the musical die not a moment is wasted with each nook filled with creative flare and ear-pricking majesty.
The sporadic edge becomes evermore prevalent in Dramath Ürh as whirls of twisted forms create tornados in the brain like a hypnotic force of demonic possession. Truly inspirational, nigh on Technical and at the same time true to the underground and a spirit of unholy mirth. Inhüma evokes similar feelings to that of its predecessor yet without quite the same bombastic triumph, whilst this release is innovative in its own right it is a carbon continuation of works that perhaps does rear its head a little too early. Despite this however I cannot dampen the powerful might that is behind this release and the sheer dedication shown from soloist Asthâghul.
To sum it up Inhüma failed to hit me with the same feeling as Pandaemorthium and I guess that is simply because it gave me what I expected and with the prior album still fresh in my mind this merely felt like disc two of an ongoing compilation from Escotrilihum. Not in the least bit drab however Inhüma really is a wondrous tome and if you haven’t had the pleasure of Escotrilihum yet then I urge you to dive right in, if however like myself you are familiar with the project it is a welcome addition yet not a necessary one and one that doesn’t command a backing of expectation.
(7/10 George Caley)
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