Blut Aus Nord - '777: Sect(s)'

We'll be hearing a lot of Blut Aus Nord in 2011, as 777: Sect(s) is the first in a trilogy of albums to be released this year. The French band has never been afraid to experiment, and over the years their albums have explored a lot of different avenues within the realm of black metal. They continue that diversity here, but the flow is smoother. The song titles aren't very creative (“Epitome I” through “Epitome VI”), but that's the only thing on the album that's not.

“Epitome I” begins with an all-out assault, then backs off to a less intense, lengthy instrumental section before Vindsval's raspy vocals resume along with the intensity before suddenly dropping off a cliff into an ambient, eerie conclusion. “Epitome II is an atmospheric piece, with grandiose guitars and bombastic drums, with periodic vocals barely audible deep in the background, acting as another instrument.

The centerpiece of 777: Sect(s) is the nearly 12 minute “Epitome IV.” The first half of the song shifts and flows between various moderate intensities and tempos, with the one constant being the industrial drumbeats. After a mid-song interlude, the old-school black metal kicks in for a few minutes before a mellower, proggy conclusion.

During the 45 minutes of 777: Sect(s), Blut Aus Nord deploys everything in their arsenal. From melody to dissonance, from focused riffs to experimental jaunts, from stifling black metal to creative soundtrack style sections, it's an album full of twists and turns with something new and different lurking around every musical corner. It's a challenging, yet ultimately rewarding black metal ride, and sets the bar high for the other two parts of the trilogy, set for a September and November release.

(released April 19, 2011 on Debemur Morti Productions)

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