Formed in Osnabrück, Germany,
Secrets of the Moon is an intense black metal band. After releasing two
demo’s and a full-length cd called Carved in Stigmata Wounds it’s
time for their new album 'Antithesis' which was on the 15th September of
this year. Beyond the menacing intro of opening title track "Nowhere"
Secrets of the Moon present eight tracks of non-compromising, straight
forward, extreme metal with some occasionally some atmospheric melodic
guitar parts. The Exhibitions EP is my first encounter with this German
black metal band, it is difficult to weigh up my thoughts on Secrets of
the Moon’s hierarchy of black metal, but going off personal taste this
band is one of the best around.
Secrets of the Moon have the
extraordinary ability to instil certain emotions with their sneering,
slithering, yet vigorous take on metal. SOTM share some attributes with
many of the US’s one man bands such as nervous paranoid feelings, but
separates with more progressive death metal elements.
“Versus” is a more standard track
that mixes death metal percussive plod and blackened vigor and “Ordinance”
and “Seraphim is Dead” are arguably the albums most ‘black’
metal sounding even with their various tangents and experimental
elements which are fully embedded in the nearly nine minute, dread
inducing closer “Lucifer Speaks”.
No where is this more predominant on the
meandering “Confessions” which has a Morose Angel-ish crawl and neck
hair raising chord progression, and the Morbid Angel vibe arises for the
lurching “Metamorphoses” and “Ghost”, two more ceremoniously
unwieldy tracks that show SOTM refuse to be stereotyped.
The tracks on this album are long,
developed and evil not relying on screams, squeals or other black metal
gimmicks, all you get is twisted, distorted riffage and inspiring song
writing . The production is top notch and every song is like a journey
taking you through an intense voyage through the album. If you like
black metal then purchase this album, Secrets of the Moon have committed
every thought and deed to this pure magic. With their new, powerful
release 'Antithesis', SECRETS OF THE MOON have multiplied all these
strengths. Satan would own this album. So,hornz up!
