7.75 out of 10
Behind the contemporary American Black Metal scene seems to be a desire to reanimate the spirit of the genre. From the publication of 2010's Black Metal Theory Symposium to the rising popularity of such diverse groups as Agalloch, Wolves In The Throne Room, and Liturgy, the public image of Black Metal musicians as church-burning heathens has become a thing of the past. However, among those that are reshaping the sound of Metal music, few stand out as being as daring as Chicago-based trio, Locrian. Their open-ended experimentations combine the monolithic intensity of Drone Doom, the swirling feedback of harsh noise, and the menacing atmospherics of Black Metal – all in the effort to create one hauntingly surreal listening experience.
One of the leading members from Locrian, Terence Hannum, has further showcased this ability to inventively blend genres in his most recent solo output, 'Final Salt'. The album consists of four tracks, yet can be best appreciated as a single vision – brooding, colossal, and compelling. It opens with a wide expanse of droning organs and low-register frequencies, but throughout the next forty minutes, as rippling noises textures move through an ocean of feedback, mangled shouts, and synths, the mysterious beauty of this work pulls you in and never lets you go.
Though many of the elements that define Locrian are at the core of this album, 'First Salt' is a work of art that should be judged on its own merit. Hannum is proving here once again the power and clarity of his vision. If you haven't heard any of his music, you're sadly missing out. Highly recommended.
One of the leading members from Locrian, Terence Hannum, has further showcased this ability to inventively blend genres in his most recent solo output, 'Final Salt'. The album consists of four tracks, yet can be best appreciated as a single vision – brooding, colossal, and compelling. It opens with a wide expanse of droning organs and low-register frequencies, but throughout the next forty minutes, as rippling noises textures move through an ocean of feedback, mangled shouts, and synths, the mysterious beauty of this work pulls you in and never lets you go.
Though many of the elements that define Locrian are at the core of this album, 'First Salt' is a work of art that should be judged on its own merit. Hannum is proving here once again the power and clarity of his vision. If you haven't heard any of his music, you're sadly missing out. Highly recommended.
Standout Tracks: Former Sea, Final Salt
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