review: Serene Dark

Serene Dark

Enantiodromia

17 July 2020

A bundle of melodic extreme brutality awaits the listener. The instrumentation is based on black metal, a chunky, hard-driving blasting force. The sound is a type of fast-moving, harsh, turbulent mass, enhanced with a symphonic background. Here is the situation: Even though this album seems and is a loud, frenzied experience, once the ears get used to it, the melodies will seem more prominent. The melodies are present in a real way, but this onion has several layers, and just like an onion, at first, it seems like too much, your ears might want to get away. If you stick around, though, you will discover the melodies under the layers of dizzying speeds.

The vocals may be the best thing and the most polarizing part of the album. On one hand, fans that love intense, frenetic extreme vocals of lots and lots of screeching and growling will get a big dose of that. Black and death vocals bounce off the walls. Oftentimes it feels like there is a lot of doubling (at least!) of the vocals, like two or more irate witches are furiously screaming in your ear, while they simultaneously compete to outdo each other. On the other hand, be aware: the approach of the vocals is in the style of brutal death metal that often keeps the vocalist busy throughout the song. As long as you enjoy a brutal vocal experience, you’ll be fine.

It’s a challenging listen. This is not serene! It’s frenetic, with the serene to be found under layers of loudness. It’s also brimming with hungry energy, the kind of fierce extreme metal that looks you straight in the eye, and tells you, “It’s going to be fast and brutal,” and then proceeds to do exactly what it said it would do. Don’t be surprised if the first few listens are overwhelming, but if chaotic velocities are your bag (“That’s my bag, baby!”), then jump onto this moving spaceship to dystopia, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

Enantiodromia by Serene Dark