Labyrinthus Stellarum‘s journey marks a third stop.
Captains Alexander Andronati (vocals/programmed drums) and Misha Andronati (guitar) have entitled it Rift in Reality, and offer it to us in collaboration with Northern Silence Productions.
Voyagers welcomes us with soft modern sounds, but the arrival of Black Metal saturation and visceral screams make the mix truly epic, almost like an interstellar voyage during which you can freely observe the stars. A few softer passages allow us to catch our breath before accelerating again to Ravenous Planet and its quietude, which metamorphoses into rather dark and oppressive ominous sounds, even benefiting from moments of floating where a cybernetic voice joins the vocalist. The sound gets heavier at times, then gives way to the vaporous Take Us Home, which haunts the air with its rather slow, soaring tones, but above all with its imposing basis that offers a reassuring dimension between the massive eruptions that eventually join the eponymous track, Rift in Reality. It kicks off at full speed and sweeps us along in its surge, and despite rare moments of respite, it remains incredibly catchy, eventually leading into the long Lost in the Void where the band let us drift along at our own pace, simply accompanied by hazy keys, choirs and terrifying screams. Waves of violence appear without warning, catching us off-guard and taking our minds further and further on an astral journey that ends with Cosmic Plague taking its turn and taking us back into the rage. Keyboards and other noises amplify the fury, giving it stranger hues or temporizing the energetic explosions, then Liftoff offers us a brief moment of calm before launching into his dreamlike trance, in which raw Black Metal takes as much place as more modern influences. It’s the keyboards that lead us into a final moment of violence, before giving way to Nirlakh, a much gentler final composition that nonetheless dips into mystery at times, thanks to its many keys that fly until their last breath.
Strange as it may seem to purists, Labyrinthus Stellarum‘s mixture is a real success! Rift in Reality is the band’s third album in three years, and it’s as seizing as ever!
95/100