French Black metal genius Asthaghul returns with ESOCTRILIHUM's new album "Dy'th Requiem For The Serpent Telepath."  This next full length album is another impressive display of spacey themed black metal and his sixth full length since their debut in 2017.   An EP was also released in 2020. Although it is along the same vein as their previous album and is unmistakably ESOCTRILIHUM, this release takes some new directions.  The riffs are much meatier this time around with more density and "oomph" to them.  The production is clearer too so I think that helps a lot.

The tempo is, in places, slower and more methodical this time around. The album isn't a constant slow dirge like a doom album but the songs do take their time to flesh themselves out more. It makes for a robust and expansive experience. The keys are also in the focus more, with many of them having a symphonic feel. However, this doesn't make the album sound like symphonic black metal to me. Instead it adds to the mystery and alien feel to the music...in addition to psychedelic tendencies.

The riffs in the opening track "Ezkikur" are space infused blackened groove. The guitar lead is subtle but well played and melds into the rest of the track. The keys change up often with baroque style passages to more a more sweeping sound while the riffs switch over with an underground black metal feel. The mix of the many different moods and styles is on point. Asthaghul definitely knows how to bring his visions to life.

"Tyurh," brings back that rapid approach to drumming that we all love black metal for. I like how the drums keep that aspect of their sound going in the song while the keys send out cold waves of spacey melodies. The guitar here compliments both aspects by adding another layer to the keys atmosphere but having that tone and feel of black metal to go alongside the drums. The riffs open to back up the guitar solo before the drums double down on the speed of darkness. No matter how gorgeous or out there the keys get, the underground appeal of black metal is always there in the songs.

"Baahl Duthr" has such an evil main riff in the song's opening moments—I actually think this is my favorite song on it just because there are so many cool parts within.  The keyboards are ethereal and go along nicely with the guitars.  Around the 1:49 mark, the song gets really violent and the drums hit fast, hard, and keep the intensity going alongside the blackened growls. The moment around the 4:45 mark with that chunky riff being boosted by the keys is magical and the riffs right afterwards around the five minute mark?  Visceral and oh so satisfying. With a run time of an hour and eighteen minutes, this album is very long but there is never a dull moment, even far beyond the halfway point.  Case in point are the last three tracks which end the album in a grand fashion.

"Nomines Haar," has some doom elements as far as its tempo and flow go—very dirge like in places although it does begin faster paced and has a pretty wild change of tempos throughout the song.   The vocals are especially brutal, as is the crisp drumming that batters the senses.  "Xuiotg," and its various noises and keyboards make the track very alien yet the blackened aspects of it never let up for a second—as such, the song sounds rather insane and boisterous but not out of place.  As it ends, the last track "Hjh'at" begins.  This one is an instrumental that goes for broke for that spacey and psychedelic feel and is a nice way to finish out this long but enjoyable journey.

This is one black metal album that you cannot miss.  It has all the elements that any fan could want but has a vision and scope that meld perfectly with the more archaic elements of the style.Purchase Link:

https://esoctrilihum.bandcamp.com/