CD Review: Dodecahedron - Dodecahedron

Written by Colin McNamara Friday, 10 February 2012 12:08

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Artist: Dodecahedron
Title: Dodecahedron
Genre: Avant-garde Black Metal
Release Date: 20th January 2012
Label: Season Of Mist

Album Review

On DODECAHEDRON’s debut self titled album, listeners just might be taken aback at how much the music here sounds like DEATHSPELL OMEGA. Technical, otherworldly, one moment slow, brooding Doom and the next psychotic, all-hell-about-to-break-loose Black Metal, the listening experience is certainly something not to be taken lightly or with mediocre expectations. DODECAHEDRON’s take on Black Metal is a mix between Black and Horror Metal, as demonstrated on the track ‘Descending Jacob’s Ladder’ which is almost like an atmospheric track with heavy distortion through the guitars, murmuring vocals and terrifying screams which will certainly be unnerving. Fans might be much more appreciative of ‘Allfather’ which is a bit more straightforward on the Black Metal front, but not by much, and rather than sounding like an angry hornet’s nest there are some very pleasant jazzy, progressive breakdowns which definitely show some avant-garde flavour. The only downside to some of the tracks is the way that the vocals are constructed, which are often distorted themselves, difficult to hear and are at odds with the rest of the music on ‘Allfather’. On another track like ‘Vanitas’, they sound clearer and make much more of an impact on the epic scale.

Also like DEATHSPELL OMEGA and other avant-garde Black Metal counterparts such as BLUT AUS NORD, DODECAHEDRON like to take the esoteric concept route rather than focusing on the usual direct Satanic themes associated with Black Metal. The three part ‘View From Hverfell’ is monumental and matches up to the epic three part ‘Kenose’ by DEATHSPELL. Each part differs from the other, the first one being heavy, obliterating Black metal but also slowing down for a more symphonic closing which links the atmospheric interlude of part 2, right before picking back up again in the final part which has a bit of an “astral Black Metal” touch to it similar to DARK SPACE, which is a bit of insanity right before some of the more melodic bits come into play before the track closes. As a result listeners are left with quite a stunning effect as to how they just sat through pretty much a twenty two minute track split into three parts and didn’t get bored once. Boredom, of course, is out of the question when it comes to pure terror and a disturbing feeling that one wouldn’t want to hear this album again with how haunting, and impressive, it may sound upon a first spin. DEATHSPELL OMEGA fans may cry ‘copy’ at first listen, but over throughout the album it is clear that DODECAHEDRON are bent on blazing their own path and incorporating their own elements in so it doesn’t sound as directly similar. There is much promise in Black Metal from this one; certainly worth checking out for those who seek something different from the conventional Black Metal structure.


Tracklist

01. Allfather - 6:17
02. I, Chronocrator - 7:27
03. Vanitas - 10:48
04. Descending Jacob's Ladder - 5:04
05. View From Hverfell I: Head Above the Heavens - 4:17
06. View From Hverfell II: Inside Omnipotent Chaos - 8:09
07. View From Hverfell III: A Traveller of the Seed of the Earth - 10:21


Line-up

Y. Terwisscha van Scheltinga- Bass
J. Barendregt- Drums
M. Nienhuis- Guitars, Composition
J. Bonis- Guitars, Electronics
M. Eikenaar- Vocals, Lyrics


Website

http://www.ddchdrn.com/


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 9
Sound: 8
Total: 8.5 / 10