The Moon and the Nightspirit has sown despair.
Formed in Hungary in 2003 following the breakup of EvenSong, the band led by the duo Mihály Szabó (vocals/guitar) and Ágnes Tóth (vocals/piano/violin) has signed with Prophecy Productions for the release of its eighth album, Seed of the Formless.
From the very first track, Cosmic Seed, we’re drawn into its ethereal sound, soon joined by Ágnes’ enchanting voice, followed by a distortion that starts off fairly subtle but gradually takes up more space in the mix, eventually igniting into haunting Post-Metal tones. The heaviness is anything but oppressive, allowing for a heady intensity even in the vocals before moving on to Luminous Thread, which retains a touch of darkness, letting it assert itself much earlier while distilling waves of dissonant yet hypnotic harmonics, setting the rhythm for our journey through this dreamlike universe. Mihály’s few terrifying roars carry us through to the finale, and then on to Odyssey Limen, which follows a more intense post-black metal dynamic, yet—to my surprise—features lighter vocals, allowing the musician to offer a gentleness that starkly contrasts with the power of the instrumental. The muffled sound gradually clears, letting us drift toward The First Tremor and its soothing, ethereal touches, which—even when adorned with distortion—remain very soft and pure, though they move toward a progression that leaves more and more room for imposing sounds. The blend remains very cohesive, even allowing for a few passages where the two voices intertwine before Astromorphosis casts its spell on us once more with some hazy leads that will eventually ignite the powder keg thanks to sharp Black Metal influences, but the track ultimately passes by rather quickly, leaving us at the mercy of Fount of Everlight, which initially feels very reassuring, then once again exposes us to majestic sounds. We feel as though we’re being bathed in an almost mystical light during the most intense passages, but the energy shifts with Olden Resonance, becoming more melancholic, almost mysterious, as the guitar attempts to charm our minds, haunting our thoughts while the vocalist dances alone, following her own rhythm between the notes. The track seems to be coming to an end, but the bass kicks in to energize the final, with screams and sharp riffs paving the way to the final track, Lament of the Thistle-Queen, which begins slowly, as if to reassure us, but grows noticeably darker, revealing its true nature only two-thirds of the way through before building to its climax.
Still rooted in its Neo-Folk origins, The Moon and the Nightspirit increasingly embraces Black and Post-Metal influences, enhancing its diversity without ever losing its strong identity. Seed of the Formless is a true treasure of unrelenting intensity!
90/100
