THY CATAFALQUE is a fascinating experimental band from Hungarian musician Tamás Kátai. The project began as a Black Metal band in the late 90s, but later branched off as Tamás's solo endeavor by the fifth album. He has since gone a more Avant-Garde direction with the music, each album full of different genres and styles. With the 10th album "Vadak" (translates to 'Wildlings') it's a dark and primal soundscape that's a blend of Black Metal, Electronic, and Folk instrumentation plus sixteen guest musicians that bring this album to life.

"Szarvas" (translates to "Deer") opens the album with a skittish synth-heavy intro and carries a fast, galloping style rhythm throughout the track. There's a gloomy, rainy autumn feel folded within the main melody as well, fitting with the lyrics that express feelings of insignificance in a wide world. "Köszöntsd a hajnalt" ("Greet the Dawn") has haunting, euphoric layered vocals to create the sun rising above rolling hills at the start. Some Folk instrumentation is blended in with some vibrant keys and flowing guitar accompaniment paints a colorful sunrise and draws the listener right into the next track "Gömböc" (Sphere). This track brings out the band's Experimental Black Metal roots, paired with some trippy humming electronic portions and whimsical bells. It's like being lead to a quaint underground cove and finding out it's also a den for a family of bears and it's one of my favorites on this album. "Az energiamegmaradás törvénye" ("The Law of Conservation of Energy") This song revolves around this scientific law that energy cannot be created nor destroyed. There is a constant guitar riff played  throughout most the track, while the rest of the instruments built and shift around it. Then the last couple of minutes takes a total shift with a much more quaint melody, with spoken words about humanity being a part of this never ending energy and to accept it.

"Móló" (Pier) has some incredible electronic and synthy portions that carry a foreboding sort of whimsy. The song also contains heavier guitar parts and some growled vocals that put a dark shroud over that magical feeling. It creates a scene of a dark lake with a layer of fog dancing on its surface. The scene is illuminated by the light of the moon that seems to be shifting like a timelapse throughout this 10 minute long track. "A kupolaváros titka" ("Secret of the Cupola City")  is a Jazz-infused number with a ominous main piano melody and a saxophone solo toward the end. I can dig it.  "Kiscsikó ( Irénke dala)" ("Foal [Irénke's Song]) is another instrumental track. This one has a rather liberating melody to it. The guitar portions are quaint and bright, the clacking percussion is rather soothing. It's a field of wildflowers in the heart of this gloomy album. "Piros-sárga" (Red and Yellow)  has some more awesome synthy melodies with some building percussive bits. It's like the progression of autumn, cold yet not unwelcome. There's also a really cool bass and flute portion in the middle that is utterly mesmerizing as well!

The title track "Vadak (Az átváltozás rítusai)" (Wildlings Rites of Metamorphosis) is the longest track on the album. The lyrics are essentially about the transfer of energy when a soul leaves the body. It's an existential crisis in a way, with how the song mentions how every living thing goes through this metamorphosis. It's inevitable and sometimes, a hard pill to swallow. There's plenty of chaotic, heavy portions with crashing drums, chuggy guitars, and distorted screamed vocals. It gives the song a feeling of thoughts reeling. The slow and chilling synth portion feels like revelation, a slow creeping of reality sinking in. The addition of some strings and Folky percussion, not to mention some more saxophone paints this transformation every being experiences in such an intriguing way too.

The album closes with the haunting "Zúzmara" (Hoar Frost). This piano heavy track has this 'falling snow' feel to it. The glass like vocals along with just the frosty atmosphere truly brings this album to the dead of winter and to a perfect close.

Overall "Vadak" is yet another incredible album from THY CATAFALQUE. The atmosphere building, the feelings you experience while listening, and how Tamás can blend genres and musical elements together so seamlessly is always impressive. This was a dark album with a lot of death and endings in the lyrics, yet it didn't always feel like doom and gloom, sound wise. There was a feeling of freedom, liberation even in some of the songs. A feeling of acceptance and realizing it's all a constant cycle of energy being redistributed showed within the more vibrant portions of the songs. I also enjoyed the heavier bits with distorted guitars and crashing percussion. It truly showed the inner struggle of accepting mortality as the only guarantee in life and the turmoil it can bring. This contrast of feelings was created flawlessly within the music. This album is a truly fun listen for any fan of Experimental Metal fan with all of the little surprises and shifts in sound and how it all comes together without a hitch in the end.