The interesting aspect of the music features elements of dungeon synth mixed with raw black metal and appalling demonic overtones that provide a dark atmosphere. The album’s intro “1560” is a horror movie soundtrack where the synth takes the lead in creating a symphonic interlude, and a dark theme also plays a textural role in the following song “Countess Carody”.

The dark ritualistic tone is mixed with elements from early Greek black metal. I couldn’t think of any other band than Necromantia’s debut album “Crossing the Fiery Path”, which has a similar tradition to the song structure. The dark ritualistic tone blares from the speakers, and there are several elements from early Beherit; even so, the guitar adds a layer of heaviness to the sweeping atmosphere.

The musical orientation is depicted as raw and menacing; the evil effect of the vocal performance with the synthesizers creates an immersive sonic experience. The guitar and the bass both have a primitive tone and are utilized creatively to plunge you into the depths of darkness. The grim feeling comes packed with dungeon synth and offers the most menacing moments when the drums tread into mid-tempo, the song often wafts with an ancient feeling, with these elements echoing throughout the lost bygone times.

Moving to the following song, “Ode to the Ritual Hills” breaks the modality of black metal and proceeds with an atmospheric intro provided by the beating drums and bass guitar enmeshed with gliding synth, which reminds me of the Polish black metal band Profanum. The album has an atmospheric scale, and what we get later is a strumming bass guitar and desolate synth pieces strewn across nine and a half minutes.

The slower moments are never dull, and the demonic incantations are soon followed by blackened doom metal riffs and haunting rasps; the drums kick in, the song intensifies, and mixes these tracks with layers of synth. The song lengths allow the duo to explore the ambient soundscapes, the music focuses on implementing the instruments to provoke the ancient feeling of black metal.

The classic 80s vibe adds another twist to the music when combined with the dark and eerie resonance of the synthesizers. But aside from this album being enjoyable and uncanny atmospheric for those who like the early phase of black metal, “Odes to the Ritual Hills” is a cult debut album that peaks on raw and symphonic overtones. The five-minute outro “Thus Spoke Satanael” graces the listener with haunting ambient soundscapes; the music is not quite medieval-like, early Mortiis, but Moonfall has managed to release something unique.

Links