ENEFERENS is a one-man project of Blackgaze/Melodic/Atmospheric Black Metal/Progressive Black/Doom Metal band based now out of Minnesota, USA. Composer Jori released his first full-length debut "The Inward Cold" in 2016, and again later that year with "In The Hours Beneath," which is presented here for review. The album contains six songs of varying length, with a total running time of about 42 minutes.

"Morning" is the first track, a seven minute offering. Clean guitar notes chime out in the beginning, as the dew from leaves on the bed of the forest floor begin to dissolve, under the warmth of the rising sun. Jori's vocals are hushed whispers that hang in the air and surround you with comfort. It isn't until near the end that a distorted guitar comes in, like a bully. "Chrysanthemum" is a little shorter, and has some more distorted guitar presence right out of the gate. Harsh vocals rear their head, deep and rattling, in the Death Metal method for the most part. The pace is slow and plodding at first, but a raucous guitar riff is soon introduced that gives haste to the song as it picks up in speed and instrumental presence. This track is very dark compared to the first. A clean guitar passages takes the song to completion.

"Through the White" uses both clean and harsh techniques for that despondent sound that is so organic in nature. The drop tuned guitars and deep vocals provide the backbone of anger and despair while the clean vocals and guitar notes rise above the darkness with notes in major keys that keep your hope alive. "Refuge" is nearly ten minutes in length. The opening sequence of Death Vocals are absolutely chilling, seeming to come from a foul beast summoned from the ninth plane of Hell. The contrasting beauty of the guitar passages is a great juxtaposition. Can the beast be tamed and walk among us in our world without harm? The wind gently sways from there with a more ambient sound, as the beast walks the forest, exposed to the beauty of the wilderness for the first time. He contemplates.

"Upon the Black Mountain" is the first track that stays firmly rooted in the Blackgaze/Post-Black arena. Here we have lovely piano notes that are depressingly haunting. A cold waft of air presses in, scattering the leaves on the ground, and bringing a chill to your bones. In the distance, a rotting skeleton in white robes plays his final dirge on the ivories before departing this world. "Ascension" is a twelve minute closing opus. An ambient opening soon gives way to a roaring command from instruments and Death Vocals. The beast has decided it's in his nature to destroy. Yet, hope remains. The clean vocals and guitar bring back that organic sound that is both pretty and calming at the same time, but always with that air of mystery not knowing what might happen next. In this case, the chaos returns, but the distorted guitars echo the chord patterns of the previous clean passages, keeping that feeling alive.

What I like most about one-man projects is the ability to connect with the composer so personally through his or her creation. "In the Hours Beneath" is a lively portrait of Jori's world which is both despondent and content. The strength of the album likes in his ability to bring these components to life through his story. There is really a lot of complexity in the wide range of what Black Metal is these days, and a lot to like here on the album.