Review by Saxy S for Blut aus Nord - Disharmonium - Undreamable Abysses (2022)

Black metal is still not my strong suit, despite what my recent listenings and review counter might suggest. So when I reviewed 2019's Hallucionogen and praised it as a great album, I knew that Blut aus Nord were a well respected atmo black metal act, but I was not expecting the drastic change in direction that the band has traversed over those twenty-five years. While the electronics are still undoubtedly Blut aus Nord, they have evolved over time from dungeon synth to ambient, industrial and psychedelia.

That last one is the most fascinating since the last record felt like a psychedelic trip while listening to it. It also seems to have attracted the fancy of Blut aus Nord since their new album, Disharmmonium - Undreamable Abysses, is doubling down on the psychedelics once again. In fact, one could listen to this record and call it Blut aus Nord by way of Oranssi Pazuzu!

That comparison goes even beyond the heavy psych comparison. the harmonic progression of this album is quite obtuse as well. Given the atonal qualities of songs like "Tales Of The Old Dreamer" and "Neptune's Eye", one might have a hard time believing that band did not have a hand involved with this. But Blut aus Nord manage to keep their etheral roots as these soundscapes are gorgeous! The melodic leads are not drowned out by an wacky, progressive song style or excessive percussive elements. The bass lines are not the most fruitful I've heard, hell they aren't even the most fruitful on a Blut aus Nord album, but they have some genuine heft, which is highly beneficial to this albums production since the percussion does not contain the same aforementioned weight. Kick drum is slightly overmixed, but a lot of the cymbal work is lacking. A thick underlying bass to emphasize chord or style changes compliments extremely well. As for the vocals, they are severely lacking, but the little bit of it we do get is fine enough; it's more Lovecraft-ian worship, but rather a commentary of those works rather than just a retread, which I enjoyed diving into.

It's almost ironic that Blut aus Nord released Hallucionogen around the same time another French based ABM band, The Great Old Ones, released their Lovecraft-ian work Cosmicism. To compare them is fair game in my opinion and Blut aus Nord stepped their game up here. This is a band that could release whatever they want and still get a passing grade from many music critics in the extreme metal sphere, but Blut aus Nord created the superior album here. The Great Old Ones made a great ABM record, Blut aus Nord crafted an experience with Disharmonium - Undreamable Abysses. 

Best songs: Chants Of The Deep Ones, Tales Of The Old Dreamer, Neptune's Eye, That Cannon Be Dreamed, The Apotheosis of The Unnamable