By:
Ernesto Aguilar
Full length: Full length
Date Released: 14/07/2017
Label: Eternal Death
“Lycanthropic Burrowing” is a shredding reminder One Master is back and they have not missed a step since their last release.
“Lycanthropic Burrowing” CS//DD//LP track listing:
1.
The Claws of Dionysus
2.
Will of the Shadow
3.
The Black Bat
4.
Death Resurrection
5.
Erosion
6.
Lycanthropic Burrowing
The Review:
Much
is offered about black metal, its history, contemporary acts and imagery. And
given how notorious that story is, it is thus incredibly difficult to be
distinctive among the hundreds of performers that have cemented its legacy.
Now
on their ninth release, One Master returns with
its follow up to 2015's "Reclusive
Blasphemy." Just by virtue of longevity, One Master
deserves a great deal of praise. With "Lycanthropic
Burrowing," the American black metal act notches another win in
creating its best release yet.
To
the untrained ear, black metal can be all noise and theatrics. Perhaps that is
not a wholly unfair appraisal, considering the number of black metal musicians
who fulfill both expectations exceedingly well. As you go back through One Master's catalog, you get to know how well the outfit
sees the importance of the aforementioned matters. Why is "Lycanthropic Burrowing" so notable then? Maybe it is a
maturity of its sound or faithfulness to its lyrical stories. However, One Master presents a new release that is well produced and
incredibly polished. The mix is exceptional, the vocals are exceedingly good
and the rest of the instrumentation is pitch perfect if you could ever ascribe
such a phrase to black metal.
From
"The Claws of Dionysus," which
begins the release, and then into "Will
of the Shadow," One Master make it
clear that the trio's chemistry sets the tone. Guitar, bass and drums are
balanced well against the lyrics for a sound that recalls classic black metal,
with a hint of hardcore chord progressions among other influences. The post-production
in these opening cuts is immaculate. The lyrics are not washed out by the sort
of sonic bludgeoning you could get from a less experienced band. The guitar and
bass are raging, but do not overwhelm the drums. One Master
gives fans a fearless album, but one that is smart enough to know the base is
sophisticated enough to know if it sounds like crap. Thankfully “Lycanthropic Burrowing” leaps out to
you like everything but.
Sound
does matter, even in extreme music, and One Master's aesthetic
is outstanding for its quality and ethos. With musical themes this recording is
centered around the mind's many antisocial and confusing swings, the lyrics
convey the darkest tales to match. Take the jackhammer drums of "The Black Bat," a tune that
pulses with chaos like you're running from your fate. It is typical of the
complete package you receive. It is matched with "Death Resurrection," which comes at you in a similarly
anarchic fashion. The vocals are almost animalistic in their storytelling of
vampires, lycans and damnation, these specters of our minds. And they are not
beasts you will soon forget, as shared here.
The
album's title track wraps up One Master's journey
and caps a mammoth recording with more of the same: unreal vocals, precise
musicianship and an abundant sound. What you may miss in experimentation you
get in sheer quality. “Lycanthropic
Burrowing” is a shredding reminder One Master is back and they have not missed a step since their last release.
“Lycanthropic Burrowing”
is available here
Band
info: facebook
FFO:
Celebratum, || Bog of the Infidel || Nightbringer || Satanic Warmaster
