Déhà is the professional name of Olmo Lipani, a Belgium musician who has a wide array of bands and projects. One of these, Déhà, shares his namesake. His latest album, "Ave Maria II - Morituri Te Salutant - Obliviscaris" is my first experience with his music. This album is actually one long song—just a few seconds shy of forty-three minutes. I tend to find long form songs like this very interesting. Based upon my research, Déhà changes style quite frequently but this album is definitely on the doom metal side of the fence.

It is also a wholly engrossing experience and one that I lost myself into many times. Déhà's vocals are absolutely drenched in anguished torture. Musically, it is monolithic, expansive yet has several moments of deep introspection.  With that being said, the album has a lot guitar but isn't riff based. This album/song is all about mood and the painting of musical landscapes. Operatic elements are ingrained into the music as well—and really do add in more dimensions and layers instead of feeling like it is there just to feel the space.

This is indicative of the album as a whole too. A song this long COULD be filled with everything and the kitchen sink but "Ave Maria II" uses restraint to its advantage. This is an album that knows exactly what it is supposed to be and augments itself using its own strength and prowess. The song is meticulously and methodical in its build up but before a minute has passed, those harrowing vocals rip through the audible air. Clean, operatic chanting can be heard in the background, even with the slow, heavy riffs and screaming going on, each piece of the song can be heard clearly.

It is subtle, and well hidden because of the slow pace, but the riffs grow increasingly intense; waves of distorted static just roll off them like a hurricane gathering wind as it reaches its destination. The same applies to the operatic vocals. At the height of the album, their powerful presence melds in with the caustic riffs, creating a world that is both at work with itself and oddly comfortable. Around the 4:16 mark, the song fades out to an ambient section.  In my mind, I can see hear the doom that came before, a sort of echo made inside my head as I focus on the ambient passage.

I urge any doom fans to not be put off at the thought of one long song—diving into this experience proves the album is a worthwhile dark horse.Purchase Link:

https://deha.bandcamp.com/