Review Summary: DorDeDuh masterminds go progressive/psychedelic. A Monkey3 meets My Sleeping Karma odyssey with Isis (the band) touches.
In the past few years, Hupogrammos and Sol Faur have sought to experiment out of the atmospheric black metal sphere one way or another. They have become renowned for the iconic albums released under the moniker Negură Bunget until 2009 (most notably
OM), before the original line-up dissolved. Immediately regrouping as DorDeDuh, the two have slightly switched their approach, leaving the folk influences to flourish in between the heavy riffage. With their latest project, Sunset In The 12th House that started in 2011, we get a more eclectic mix of progressive metal, touches of psychedelia and traditional Eastern music.
Recruiting DorDeDuh/Koneskin drummer, Sergio Ponti, along with bass player Mihai Moldoveanu, the band has finally revealed their debut effort,
Mozaic, after years of teasing. As expected, the album is very layered and carefully produced. Think of it as a Monkey3 meets My Sleeping Karma, plus occasional brutal Isis-esque outings. Few vocals are bleeding through the thick wall of sound, focusing instead on creating a prolonged instrumental journey. The opening cuts, 'Seven Insignia' and 'Arctic Cascades' are the most complex examples of the aforementioned descriptive mashup. The former begins with staccato tapping, then jumps to an evil yet groovy section where the guitars are let loose. The pace constantly shifts, passing through lush moments provided by gentle leads, to murky chug sections and on to an epic finale. What must be mentioned is that the aural, sometimes uneasy keyboards play a big role here (as well as on the entire album), since they offer balance on the metal parts and add an almost spiritual dimension to the subdued moments. Undoubtedly, 'Seven Insignia' would feel at home next to 'Icarus' had it been placed on Monkey3's
The 5th Sun. On the other hand, 'Arctic Cascades' shares a more eerie ambiance akin to My Sleeping Karma's output. The high-pitched guitars, synth pads and deep bass lines create a perfect playground for Ponti to animate the voyage using several interesting drum patterns. The entire track has a lovely summerish vibe, it might just be the most accomplished one here.
Further exploring
Mozaic, we find other highlights such as 'Desert's Eschaton', a tune that indulges in traditional Turkish music. Using the saz baglama as the main instrument and percussion, the band easily churned their most entertaining cut so far. Towards the end, distorted guitars disrupt the traditional atmosphere, breaking into a nice, heavy coda. Also, 'Ethereal Consonance' shares a more religious tone by bringing some grandiose chants and a thick layer of keyboards over twangy leads, whereas the hardest hitting track, 'Rejuvenation' comes closest to their usual output, using powerful riffs complete with growls. It's nice to see such diversity, each song reaching different directions. Luckily, there are several elements that unify them into a coherent work.
Many doors have opened for the guys with Sunset In The 12th House. Alternating between this project and DorDeDuh should keep them on a constant musical exploration. There are no boundaries here, no obligatory concepts to follow, so there could always be fresh ideas to present. Metal purists will find something to enjoy here, however, those open-minded are the ones who'll definitely enjoy Mozaic most. Dig it.
