BLACK MARKET ENLIGHTENMENT

Antimatter is one of the uncanny and unusual art rock projects that crosses the progressive territory, and the band's seventh studio album explores a lot of the progressive tendencies that have come to define their latter day works. Originally a two-piece, Antimatter has been the creative outlet of main songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and producer Mick Moss since 2006, and 'Black Market Enlightenment' from 2018 is the fourth album overall to be written and recorded solely by Moss. The band's music is defined by a brooding, melancholic feel and a staggering darkness that comes through the idiosyncratic voice of Mick Moss, whose lyrics also reflect upon a somewhat gothic aesthetic. Heavy, hefty, but often atmospheric guitars as well as washes of gloomy synths and multiple effects dominate the sonic ground of Antimatter's albums, and 'Black Market Enlightenment' is no exception; it is an ominous and creative work that deals with Moss' substance abuse, making the album very personal and intimate, all while the music remains obliquely progressive.

Among the nine tracks on the album there are some exceptional and exciting moments as well as a few more forgettable ones - the opening track 'The Third Arm', for example, impresses with its fiery grief, gloomy atmosphere and almost post-rock aesthetic, making it one of the more accessible songs on the album, while a track like 'Sanctification' can get lost amongst the layers of moody ambience, meaning that some of the songs on the album lack the memorable, addictive hook. 'Wish I Was Here' has heavy atmospheric undertones and a feel of existential desperation in the lyrics that suits the music quite well. 'This Is Not Utopia' and 'Partners in Crime' are dark, perverse, and utilizing a lot of electronica, definitely two of the more compelling song off the album. The oblique heaviness and the cathartic build-ups are very finely done, and 'Existential' is another good example, also introducing a touch of world music to the mix. 'Liquid Light' closes off the album in an effective way, especially because of the glorious vocal performance of Moss. The entirety of 'Black Market Enlightenment' follows a similar mood as well as similar rhythmic patterns, which takes away someof the variety of the music - however, the album does have several really interesting moments that are worth listening to. The instrumental build-ups and the vocal work are the main strengths of this particular record.

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