ABSOLUTUS is a Black/Avante-Garde Metal band based out of Belgium, formed in 2003. The band has released a full-length album and an EP, until now, with the release of the nine track album: "Pugnare in iis Quae Obtinere Non Possis". The opening track, "Abyssus Abyssum Invocat" opens with a swirling of white noise that gathers steam in the form of a three note pattern that exudes evil and creepiness. It flows into "Sunt Verba ed Voces Praetereague Nihil" which presents a traditional Black Metal wall of sound. The vocals are done in a bit of a lower range and are more steady than the high pitched screams you often here in this style. The song has some structure, but it is fairly loose, at least until the double bass noticeably takes over and mixes things up.

"Credo Qula Absurdum" is a frightening affair that is hasted by relentless blast beat drumming and sinister guitar chords, it crosses over into the world of the dead. The impact of the various sounds in this song are strong, and I would not recommend listening to this alone in the dark. "Ego Sum Qui Sum" is a slower number with a high level of sonic presence. It's also another song that's fairly loose in shape, and mostly centers around two dissonant chords that flow back and forth throughout. "Damnat Quod Non Intelligunt" does a nice job of breaking up the style presented thus far, with an eerie instrumental that reminds you of something you might hear in a nightmare. The title track, "Pugnare in iis Quae Obtinere Non Possis" dials up the agony and distress to another level. If you have ever seen the movie Hostel, this could be the song that plays in the dungeons of torture.

Following the brief instrumental "Decepimur Specie Recti," "Virgo Del Gentrix" is the last song with vocals. The running guitar notes are a nice addition to the vocals, which sound like Satan himself behind the microphone. "Numen" closes the album in much the same fashion as it opened, with a cold instrumental that combines feedback and ambiance. Even if it's done in the most malignant way as possible. Overall, I enjoyed the album, it's very traditional Black Metal but the delivery is more Ambient. The instrumentals add some depth to the album as a whole so that you are not as overwhelmed with what can be a very big sound over and over.