PANTHEON OF BLOOD: "Consociatio Solis et Lunae"

Profound black metal isn't ever easy to tackle. When you've got your average norsecore albums under analysis, the review of the content can remain on the level of how instruments are played, what's the production like, and maybe a comment on overall atmosphere. But approaching a band like Pantheon of Blood on the level of mere superficialities, like those above, seems redundant: the message conveyed here is of such importance that you can't really circumvent it. Many worthwile albums may pass under your radar as you don't delve into their lyrical potential, but in the case of Consociatio Solis et Lunae, the profoundness is easy to notice: the artwork alone suggests that there's something more to it than just a couple of guys playing black metuuhl.

But first we may still be interested in the shallower side of things (which isn't purposeless either): the music. Comparing this to the 2010 demo, there hasn't been any crucial changes. Powerful underground black metal in varying tempos with a heap of Finnish spirit that you may come across in bands like Funerary Bell and Blood Red Fog. Overall eeriness is conflated with a touch of both melancholy and hope. And like on the previous effort, Pantheon of Blood succeeds here very, very well. The way the raging riffs develop into the wailing beauty on ”Overflowing Manifestation” is mesmerizing with all the clean plucking and orotund male vocals. While this track follows a rather general, yet tasty, way of composing black metal in its country, ”The Crimson Empress of Night” brings in a combination of plentiful mysteriousness and a pummeling rhythm section. The overall mood here nods towards a death metalish atmosphere, though otherwise that reference does not apply.

What I personally enjoy here to a great extent is how the music projects the lyrical, symbolic side of the record. Obviously, the contrasting principles of sun and moon / light and darkness / day and night / male and female / et cetera are at play here. The bright, vivid sounds on ”Overflowing Manifestation” reflect the side of the Sun. Lyrically, this is evident in the ”gleaming faces” and ”blazes of lightning falling from Heaven”, as well as in the hyperbolic reverence: ”Pure immanence, of immaculate radiance / Crowned with gold, endowed with the sight of countless eyes”. Cyclicality is explored here too, intertwining the second track to the first, as both sides are necessary in the universe: ”Into His loving embrace / The birds of night return / Only to burst out again”. The side B track ”The Crimson Empress of Night” is the darkness, the magic. The one who veils the hidden knowledge, and the one whose madness and evilness one must look through to see that there ”the jewel of Wisdom shines”.

Being a concise (almost too brief, though) package, and having such a well explored theme, Consociatio Solis et Lunae is like a ritual, no matter how clichéd that sounds. I can not say it's a record that has the most mindblowing musical content ever, but the high level of quality is definitely there, hence deserving good ratings. Coming in sturdy gatefold covers that are beautifully illustrated, the EP should not be overlooked.

4 / 5