Darkness consumes us. Once you set foot into that viscous swamp of hopeless degradation the struggle against its pull is only bound to make things worse. Sometimes it's better to submit to the mistress of putrid ways, for deep in her embrace one might find the cool solace of a darkened heart.

Atmospheric Black Metal is one of those magical genres that has a truly potent ability to immerse the listener in a phantasmagoria of melancholic emotion. The genre is also incomparable in its effect on the yearning soul, for as those grim waves wash over you, the cool poignancy of dark matter leaves your senses curiously refreshed and your spirit lifted. So fear not if you're sinking into the blackened quicksand of sorrow, for the Chilean Atmospheric Black Metal quartet SOL SISTERE have brought a sombre remedy in their debut "Unfading Incorporeal Vacuum".

I must admit that at first I was sceptical of this album's merits; for the title, the cover art and the song titles appeared to be just a touch too obvious in their infernal motives. Yet as "Death Knell" slowly crept into the speakers with mellow, echoing arpeggios - before bursting the gates open with a passionate explosion of strong Black Metal - I immediately felt the tangible, pure substance of this record. "Unfading Incorporeal Vacuum" proved to breathe with melodies, blast beaten growls and crying tremolo picked lines; this is bonafide material.

As the record carried on delivering the aforementioned virtues through "Relentless Ascension" (very much a continuation of the opening tack) and "Deliver Us", it was impossible not to notice the album's almost conceptual direction and the band's fine ability to sustain melodic presence whilst delivering genuine Black Metal attributes.

Throughout "Unfading Incorporeal Vacuum" one is guided by gilded melodic intermissions that serve as conduits to the harsh truths of the Black Metal domain. "Slight of the Oracle" - with its steady rhythmic approach and strong songwriting ethic - almost steps into Post-Metal territory, whilst "6^th Replicant" bares its soul amidst the chaos with a poignant interlude that puts the 'atmosphere' into the genre's nomenclature.

The production is quite characteristic of what you might expect from a Black Metal offering - it's grainy, a bit thin and drenched in reverb. However, the sound quality is part of this honest experience and all the more contributes to the authentic ambiance of the record; but of course, this experience is not without its drawbacks. Some of the songs do fall into the unfortunate habit of using repetitive formulas and "filler" passages, but as previously mentioned, given that this record possesses a certain conceptual element to it, this may be gladly overlooked.

Overall - this is an ironically soulful piece of Black Metal bliss. On "Unfading Incorporeal Vacuum" SOL SISTERE go beyond sonic boundaries and create a three dimensional exploit into darkness that as pure as it is obscure.