Mørketida (FIN) – Traveler Of The Untouched Voids LP

Black Metal

One of the most accomplished newcomers Signal Rex has come across in recent years, the shadowy entity of Valais burst from the voidal womb fully formed in the middle of 2021 with their self-titled debut album. Despite existing in the vast (and vastly inconsistent) wilderness of Bandcamp, Valais in fact imparted a power and poignancy that takes most bands at least a couple records to reach, if at all. Both classically composed and forward-thinking, Valais understood right from the start the core tenets of true black metal, but equally understood how to inject their own personality and poise into such to create something that adds to the language of BLACK METAL rather than mimics its speech patterns (and sloppily so).

No, Valais as a work is a towering monument of tension and release, skillful contours and subtle dynamics, richly malevolent melody and slipstreaming violence. Aesthetic touchstones include the likes of Slidhr, latter-day Leviathan, and even Blut Aus Nord at their wiliest, but Valais also exhibit an understated sense of the pagan – perhaps stemming from their native Ireland, or perhaps from some strange cosmos far beyond our comprehension… Either way, all of this coalesces into a whilrlwinding five-song/37-minute experience that feels far vaster than that succinct runtime otherwise suggests. As such, Signal Rex is honored to rightfully release this tome in all physical formats.

Black Metal

Consisting of the entirety of this band’s output to present this two track demo is a scathing opening manifesto in metal ferocity. Each track sprawls itself out into movements that span various metal styles seamlessly. Without feeling like separate tracks the opening tracks “Seeking Our Monolith in the Night” defies tempo and characteristic limitations while creating a luminous meditative twenty minute opus. As if that wasn’t quite enough “At Last, the Moongate” closes the release by exploring these auditory realms even further and brings in other elements to round out the release in an even further hypnotic fashion. Enveloping, engaging, and slightly terrifying.

This mysterious band released this album originally on tape in 2018 and have remained silence since. They’ve been likened to Sanguine Eagle and Paysage d’Hiver, though such statements don’t do this justice. Avoid to your own detriment.

Edition of 150 on black vinyl

Black Metal

Two great bands together in a covenant of Black Metal, each one parading its unique approach and both building a strong split, a brilliant release.