Deus Mortem - Emanations of the Black Light

DEUS MORTEM - Emanations of the Black Light (STRYCH Promotions - CD 2013)

This project has been bringing the attention like the light atracts moths, ever since the news about it has been spread around the Polish underground. All in all Deus Mortem has been formed by Necrosodom (deathyells, plague of rats and necropulse), who must be known to all of you from such killer acts as Anima Damnata, Thunderbolt (cult!), Mord, Throneum and most recently from his excellent participation on “Blasphemer’s Malediction” LP of Azarath (Recommended!!!). He’s been joined by another interesting and well known persona, Mr.(mother-fuckin-blast-master) Inferno – rotten coffins and old spirits – who’s been playing the drums of death with Behemoth for the past 15 years or more, and also plays (or played) in Damnation, Witchmaster, Azarath… With such a killer line up, composed by two strong individuals, Deus Mortem was destined to catch the attention right from the day if its spawn. And it certainly did, as quickly Witching Hour released their debut EP “Darknessence”, which contained two tracks, one of which was a Sigh cover. The band has even played some gigs, what was a killer experience, especially to see Inferno playing guitar (he was able to sacrifice his time not only to Azarath, but also to Deus Mortem, as Behemoth – due to Nergal’s sickness - was inactive at that time), instead of the drums; it surely was something new (the drums has been taken over by Stormblast from Infernal War). But I just didn’t have a clue that Deus Mortem was ready also to release their first album... and so they did, in February 2013, releasing it by themselves (what surprised me a little), giving it for distribution to Witching Hour and Malignant Voices. Obviously the purchase of this CD was undisputed, I wanted “Emanations of the Black Light” ever since I found out about it… and finally I got it few days after the premiere. Well, the album (dedicated to Trondr Nefas of Urgehal) catches the attention first and foremost with its dark and eerie layout… I definitely like it a lot; its black colouring, mixed with the grey… great font used for all the texts, some really killer Deus Mortem photos… that sort of layout and graphics fits the music perfectly, creating a sinister and evil atmosphere right from the start, complementing the sounds just as it should be.

And the sounds are black metal, if you wanted to ask. Actually I must say that before I even heard any music from Deus Mortem I thought it will be more like an obscure, old school death metal project, I don’t even know why, but obviously I was completely wrong and that also shouldn’t be a surprise, considering what other bands Necrosodom (who’s been responsible for writing the music on “Emanations of the Black Light”) plays with. Yeah, the music on this CD is fuckin obscure, evil, nasty, mayhemic black metal… but not primitive and dull, not ridiculously simple or pathetic, but strong and powerful. Actually when I listen to “Emanations of the Black Light” I have a resemblance to a couple for other Polish black metal bands – Thunderbolt and Infernal War, at least speaking of some riffs or motifs, as generally especially Infernal War is way, way faster than Deus Mortem, but still a small resemblance is present definitely. Besides, I have a feeling like along with the pure, furiously fast black metal, which often fills up the “Emanations of the Black Light” the band takes quite a strong influence from the old school thrash and death metal as well, going as deep as to the 1980’s in the search of anything what’s disgusting, necro and brutal. I must say that I’m glad that the band didn’t opt for the minimalistic and primitive ways of the sound destruction, but their music is actually more complex, with plenty of variety within the style of riffing – starting with those old school metal riffs, through utterly fast devastation and finishing with quite few melodic parts spread all over the album – and obviously using miscellaneous tempos and patterns. Don’t be surprised then, if one minute you’ll get smashed by the wall of brutal and fast black metal riffing (“Receiving the Impurity of Jeh” – pure Darkthrone / Zyklon B worship, but with strong personal touch and some more harmonic hints here and there) and next you’ll hear almost melancholic and sorrowful atmospheric part with painful and possessed vocals, which will almost remind you Furia or FDS (in “Ceremony of Reversion pt 1”). And everything has been played in pure metal way – guitars, bass, drums and raw, shrieking vocal / howling of N., with no keyboards or useless intros (only once there’s clean guitar tone used in the finishing part of “The Shining”), what only strengthens the impression of the obscurity, rawness and aggression of the album. All in all I cannot say that Deus Mortem has recorded the most innovative or inspiring black metal album ever - I would actually never expect it from them - but certainly they did an awesome and very well listenable piece of horrid, bestial and morbid music, which I have very enjoyed to listen to and will surely back to very frequently. So, I recommend you getting this piece of abominable desecration – it is a fuckin’ bulldozer.

Final rate: 85/100