Elysian Blaze - Levitating the Carnal

I’ve seen “funeral,” “doom,” “depressive,” and “suicidal” (and in various combinations thereof) used to describe the black metal of Elysian Blaze. Such labels don’t particularly interest me, although this interview with this Australian one-man act is provocative with regards to that last label. What interests me is what comes from the speakers, and on Levitating the Carnal (on Asphyxiate), Elysian Blaze indeed crafts sounds that make Joy Division seem happy.

The feeling is quite deep, though, and not just one of dreariness – Mudvayne’s a better ticket to that. Since its inception in 2003, Elysian Blaze has shifted from simpler, guitar-oriented sounds to more baroque structures and wider soundscapes. But the core feeling is constant – cold, distant, foggy. As the artwork suggests, it’s like hearing far-off rituals in an endless cathedral.

Elysian Blaze – Macabre Be Thy Blood

Previous Elysian Blaze offerings were well-crafted, but Levitating takes a big step up with great use of piano. Pretty and eerie, it contrasts nicely with the guitars, which are less important this time. Instead, drones and much reverb, particularly on drums, take precedence. What stands out is the skill in both the piano playing and layered production. These aren’t the usual buzzsaw scrapings.

This is a beautiful release that deserves a place in the same sentence as Xasthur, Leviathan, et al. Hide your sharp objects, and get this at Asphyxiate or The End.