LABYRINTHUS STELLARUM - "Vortex Of The Worlds" Album Review
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Ukrainian cosmic black metal band Labyrinthus Stellarum, who entered the scene with Tales of the Void, have recently released their second full length album Vortex Of The Worlds. Thanks to their blend of ambient synths and cold black metal, they've cemented their name in the cosmic black metal genre alongside Mesarthim, Blut Aus Nord, Midnight Odyssey, and many others. Their name echoes the complexity of their sound. They describe it as a labyrinthine journey through stellar expanses in which the boundaries between black metal and electronic experimentation dissolve, giving birth to a singular atmospheric odyssey. I always appreciated the idea behind black metal with space ambiance. Their brand of music is melodic, synth-driven, icy, and futuristic. It's a rich soundtrack to a science fiction movie guiding us into space through colourful nebulae. If you are a fan of music acts such as Sadness and Lustre, I would highly recommend this album. Vortex of the Worlds, is a testament to their artistic and technical progress, presenting a more layered and detailed approach when compared to its predecessor. It's rich in textures, theatrical, and grandiose in its production. Conceptually speaking, it holds the right amount of contrasts and juxtapositions. It's ethereal yet assertive, emotionally raw yet extremely precise in its delivery. In this second full length album, the band consists of brothers Alex and Misha Andronati plus Dmytro Bokhan. The opening track Trascendence, sets the tone for what is to come, with bombastic soaring guitar work, dynamic electronic arrangements, and contrasting harsh vocals. This composition is probably one of the most "uplifting" and "accessible" to the general public. However, If we consider the more traditional black metal crowd, this may not sound accessible to them (especially the melodic keyboard orchestration). All in all, it's an ambient black metal piece conceived with an electronic mindset. It's in tracks like Downfall that we truly experience their idea of cosmic chaos. This track almost emotionally feels like the death of a star. It ventures into a more aggressive territory with a grand atmosphere, and an expansive look at the beauty and despair of vastness. When Interstellar Wandering starts, we find ourselves captivated in their cosmic opera narrative. We fight around alien forces in a kingdom of darkness and warship. This is definitely one of the most grandiose tracks of the album. The vocals, ranging from enraged rasps to reverb and clean echoes, are used to great effect throughout. The Light of Dying Worlds showcases Labyrinthus Stellarum’s impressive synthesizer and technical abilities. This track presents long ambient sections with looping ethereal vocals.The album closes with “Vortex of the Worlds.” I feel like this track truly embodies the atmosphere and concept of the project. The vocals are chilling triumphant cries echoing the rhythmic line and aggressively chasing the guitar. This is, without a doubt, one of the biggest surprises of the year. This band has crafted an immensely enjoyable yet obscure musical experience by incorporating electronic experimentation and uplifting hymns in black metal soundscapes.
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