I must rightly admit, through many years of metal there have been many monikers I have seen people take up in a band, and none are as outlandish or sometimes even comedic as in black metal, where they try to be as pagan or satanic as they often can. Amid the myriad of wizards and sorcerers today we are greeted by a German black metal band named FARSOT with their lineup full of names that almost seem as if their music were written by calculators and drum kits of different versions. However in all seriousness today I present the aforementioned band and their newest 6 track release Fail-Lure. Being their 3rd full length release and first in 8 years, without further ado let us dive right in.

The album opens with the track "Vitriolic", which admittedly does drag itself out with its opening comprised of nonsensical laughing. Admittedly the track is rather uninspiring, with a somewhat slow progression and lack of variance in the riffs. It feels as if one drudges along begrudgingly in listening of this as opposed to being carried away by the song. It never truly makes an impression, with simple riffs and beats that never vary. Almost ironically it is most enjoyable when it becomes quieter and less metal, focusing on a simple yet elegant melody. Yet as a whole, it sticks with a very simple tune and sticks to it as if it is afraid to make a statement. It is rather a shame as there truly seems to be potential in the song that is just mired with creative confusion.

The next song I will cover will be a bit of a jump to the 5th song, being "Undercurrents". Though a lack of variance is arguably still present, it is far less noticeable in this song. It is certainly a milder song for black metal, yet an enjoyable one. There is an ever present calm yet gradual beat, never becoming crazy and no sudden surprises. In a nutshell, it is nothing over the top but a enjoyable song amidst classical black metal riffs and a very steady beat that is easy to nod along to. Admittedly, it does have an outro that is somewhat drawn out by a solid minute or two with lead guitars that bordered on a solo but never could seem to be truly called such, yet despite that the instrumental outro was enjoyable.

Finally the album ends with "A Hundred to Nothing", which is almost jazz like in its initial moments. I must admit, this song is what I enjoyed most. It was bold, unusual, and though not all of the creative decisions in the song were to my liking I respected them. I will call this a nearly instrumental song as it is laced with whisperings throughout that are legible, but in sum this six minute instrumental piece of melody was certainly a highlight of the album.

I hate to admit it, but this album is alright at best. There are moments that are better and others that are worse, and while some parts were enjoyable it never makes or leaves a lasting impression. It is hard to identify what subgenre this could belong to as black metal does not seem the most fitting, yet it is certainly not atmospheric black metal. Though I hate using the term experimental that is likely the best term to use here. But I can say that never once in the album is there a sense of cohesiveness, just sort of broad feelings and sounds that are better described as vague ideas. In sum, it is worth listening to but it is not something that is spectacular by any means.