From Minnesota, USA, comes Black Metal trio CANIS DIRUS. That was about all of the information I could find about the band, unfortunately. So, it’s another mysterious Black Metal release where we are going to have to let the music do the talking. The album has six songs, and “Once Cursed Path Glistens in the Sun” is first, and it’s dark, heavy, fast, and thick. The riff is interesting in that the chord progression is a bit unusual, even tinged with melody as the vocals rage. It’s an odd juxtaposition. Floating to the finish line, the sound drops, to atmosphere, and tension, and then the sound returns. “Tongues that Speak Ill” eases in at first, and then “boom,” a riff of pure despair slams in. The drums and vocals are working overtime, but the riff remains calm. There is another drop in sound after the half-way mark, and another swelling return.

“A Forlorn Hymn to Absolution” is a slower, and clean sound, and it drips with introspection and other feelings, like loneliness, and even regret. Depressive strings augment the change of direction here, and it’s a depressive diversion. “Vultures Whisper” continues the sound, but with a charge of distortion. The lead guitars sing a tale of woe, and the backing music supports it. As it continues, you feel more and more like crawling into a hole and never coming out. The blackness is suffocating. “Cast My Heart in Stone” is a short connecting song with acoustic guitars, and more doleful strings. “The Mind Sees What the Eyes Cannot” closes the album, and it roars back with a full plate of Black Metal madness. It is firm, harrowing, and chaotic at times.

This was an unusual Black Metal album in that the band steered clear of convention and just made the album that they wanted to make. It is personal, and nuanced, even Progressive at times. It piqued my interest, and made me want to hear more from the band for sure.