Primary Emotions/Themes: Black metal with trumpets, who would have thought it would work so well?
Thoughts: Avant-garde black metal is one of the most hit and miss genres that I've ever exposed myself to. Most of the albums I've heard in this genre are of... suspect quality. Once in a while though you get a true gem. Lightning in a bottle as it were. All Hail Pessimism is one of those albums.
Much of the album sounds like typical black metal: fast riffs, blasting drums, minor key melodies... you name it. In fact one could be forgiven if they gave up on this album after listening for five minutes, it really doesn't do much remarkable until about six to eight minutes in.
Honestly the band could have done a better job with the start of the album. While Kvarforth's vocals are interesting, they are not enough to hold the album together... that is until the first breakdown. When the music starts fading away to ambience and the guitars distortion begins to turn clean that's where the trumpet comes in.
The trumpet is this albums wild card. It is utilized in a way that is rare in metal, and even rarer in black metal. It is both atmospheric and triumphant at the same moment. It beckons the music forward while adding to the whole. It can play the supporting role or it can play the lead, whatever the song needs. It's not used in every song, or even in every moment of the songs that it is. Rather it is used as that additional part to the song that takes the music from mediocre to good, good to great, great to elite.
That's what makes All hail Pessimism apart. This novel use of an ancient instrument. This fascinating inclusion of an element that is rarely used within the metal medium. It's so uncommon, even the same band would decline to use it on the follow ups... and in doing so would lose the one key ingredient that made their music unique.
Written July 29th 2024
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