August 18, 2014

Filthy Music Review - '13th Moon: Abhorrence of Light'


13th Moon - Abhorrence of Light (2014)

Exitium Productions/Nigrem Serpentis

Review by Blakwulfaz

13th Moon is a band I have been very familiar with in the past year. I reviewed the debut demo "The Pale Spectre over the Worm" some time ago and it was an excellent introduction to a band I've never heard prior. With the first full length released to the masses, 13th Moon give us "Abhorrence of Light" to slowly digest.


The album was packaged in an excellent limited edition black box with printed sigil on it, housed in a black ceremonial bag and came with a patch, button, and dead snake skin consecrated in bone dust. Before even putting the cassette in, you instantly get the feeling of devoted ritualistic aesthetics to further heighten the senses to prepare yourself for what is to come.


Upon first listen, you are greeted by dark ambiance and cathedral bells. The wisps of winds meet with the band's sheer brutality as 13th Moon begin its journey. Being no stranger to 13th Moon, right away I am very satisfied with the first track of the song, " The Rite as Sinister as Old". Downtuned desecration and sinister chants by Shakh'ath married by the thunderous ritualistic rhythms from Thagirion provide the basis of this album and it is not disappointing.

As the necromantic magick takes it's course with blackened death psalms married with superb doom-laden passages, 13th Moon have truly crafted an excellent debut album. Sections of brooding dark ceremonial soundscapes weave within the music creating very cryptic and archaic vibrations. The ominous drones fade well into the music as the band continues its barbaric onslaught right as the ambiance dies and gives way to the song that follows.

The sound of the record is what really grabbed me at the beginning. Lo-fi, drenched in reverb, and the heavy low end provide the death metal aspect of this album, but it is very much a black metal album. They knit the two styles together so flawlessly, it doesn't even conflict of whether they are a black or death metal act, even though it is irrelevant to begin with.  Production wise it is well made, very raw, grimy and cavernous and it gives incredible character to the album.
Overall, this is a release you do not want to miss out on. Released on both cassette and CD by Exitium Prods and Nigrum Serpentis respectively.

Tracklist:

1 - The Rite as Sinister as Old 
2 - Nigredo - The Lurid Light 
3 - Primitive Existence of Divine Pain 
4 - La Cripta Dei Lebbrosi 
5 - Breathing the Putrefaction of Their Grace 



PURCHASE: SOLD OUT







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