BLACK MEDIUM CURRENT

To give a "masterpiece" rating to an album feels so responsible that I realize I don't remember the last time I did so; and even though I unreservedly apply the M-word to the 2015's A Umbra Omega, I was skeptical about DGH's ability to pull it off again. On the one hand, bands rarely succeed twice in a row, and on the other, DHG was severely (as I thought) wounded by Aldrahn's departure. But of course one shouldn't just expect Black Medium Current to be A Umbra Omega minus Aldrahn. What we get is somewhat different, as one would expect from an ever-evolving band -- less chaotic, with a lot more emphasis on the atmosphere. Initially it wasn't clear how well this works, but the test of these two years gives me the confidence to call this a 4.5-rounded-up-star album.

Vocals are now done by Vicotnik, and while the range of insanity delivered vocally has shrunk compared to previous efforts, the vocals are still extremely varied and marvelously outlandish. Mostly done in the traditional Black Metal style, they constantly shift in unexpected way, providing one of the main hooks for experimentally inclined ears. And for you normies out there, they also offer a nice melodic hook, as repeated listens reveal. The best example must be the solemn "chorus" of Halow, but this really applies to every song. More generally, the music is of course rooted in Black Metal, however is very proggy and experimental, with ample use of synthesizers, a busy rhythm-section, elements of electronic music, atmospheric breaks and actually pleasant-sounding masterful mixing (boo, untrve).

Speaking of atmospheric breaks, the strongest part of the album must be its ambiance. As you would expect from the band, it is surreal. The music and most notably the vocals convey the faintly mournful alien feeling; it feels partially sorrowful and partially like an emotion of a being from the vast space out there beyond our comprehension. The most concise expression of this must be the beginning of the epic Abyss Perihelion Transit (also check out its music video). Play the first 5 seconds, and I am no longer here. The interlude Voyager could serve as a non-metal, very mild introduction to the same. This may be a step back from A Umbra Omega in terms of experimentation (which still means a lot), but a step forward as far as atmosphere and cohesion are concerned. As expected, the band's sound keeps morphing and evolving.

All in all, one of the best Avant-garde Black Metal I've heard and one of the proggier albums of 20's. One of those that you can both successfully put on the background and rely on the atmosphere and melodies, and enjoy actively, picking out more and more details and intricacies. Looking forward to hearing the next one in 2035...

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