Legendary underground heroes Beherit return for another dark ambient work that builds on the unique style they presented on “H418ov21.C” and “Electric Doom Synthesis” but tempers it with a vast array of new influences. This eclectic approach tends at times towards an interesting, if befuddling, synthesis but also leaves some scattered ideas in the limbo of flourishes that don’t attain the compelling voice of a full statement.
For this release, Beherit opt for the sparser and minimal style that they previously dabbled in, similar to the free-flowing compositions of “Zeit”-era Tangerine Dream with the dark sting of electronic Beherit. After an ominous intro, “Shadow Prayer” kicks in with menacing sounds before settling for an almost subliminal pulse that backs the rest of the song while a wash of sinister soundscapes glide over it. At some point, the listener might be surprised by certain synth themes and a sense of tension reminiscent of contemporary classical composers like Penderecki, even though they’re successfully integrated in the context of a sonic landscape coherent with Beherit’s previous ambient outings. “Coruscation” features soundscapes that wouldn’t be out of place in a Vangelis soundtrack, while many of the following tracks bring heavy and dramatic synths sometimes coupled with electronic percussion. The diabolic terror that has been a trademark of the band’s sound, independently of the genre they tackled, is present throughout but in a curious twist finds itself frequently replaced by melancholy.
The “sparseness” we’ve alluded to, undeniably a part of Beherit’s DNA, sometimes works to the detriment of the record. Even within the purposes of ambient music, some tracks end up being too fragmentary and leaving the listener without much to cling to. Thus, almost every theme feels like a suggestion rather than a development with clear purpose and resolution, and the entire album will give a lasting sensation of fugacity.
As expected, the summoned textures are expressive and the spectral atmosphere that Beherit are masters of is hinted at throughout the album, which is obviously of interest to fans, both of the band and of this genre in general, even if the vision isn’t as powerful as other works of theirs.
