Review Summary: A masterclass in sonic world-building.
Black metal excels in creating atmospheres that encourage rumination. Beauty can be found in the most unlikely places, like a flower sprouting from the cracked pavement of a dilapidated city. All Virtues Ablaze is an exercise in schools of contradictory thought, yet the lessons are never lost on the pupil. The first track, Hypoxic, begins in a deceptively ordinary manner. Blast beats and blazingly fast riffs. But then a chasm opens up, and the floor that was steady and familiar sinks into that hole. Before you know it, the city in which you had been promenading is replaced by a much larger and ancient metropolis filled with sacrosanct wonder.
There is a clear melodic death metal influence in the music, but the rules that anchor that genre are mere suggestions rather than required ascetic rites. Liminal Shroud carries the faith and observes the tenants of Black Metal, but they are tapping into the ideology rather than the fundamental practice of the genre. Melancholy that embraces melody is their scripture. Mists Along Florencia is bleak, yet there is a glimpse of hope that keeps the track from being overbearingly oppressive. This can largely be attributed to the guitar tone. The bass and drums are full-bodied and act as a monolithic anchor while the guitars lightly traverse above, almost weightless in comparison. Moreover, the drum work on the second track is not only the anchor but the engine. The world that Liminal Shroud creates is never fragmented by beat patterns that are foreign to this realm, yet, this rhythmic locomotive carries you through this expansive landscape that hosts both jungles and deserts in perfect harmony.
The savage intensity of Death/Black Metal occasionally percolates through the melodic veil. However, these rain showers never build into destructive storms capable of destroying the beauty of this melancholic world. These dynamic sonic shifts keep a steady level of excitement throughout the 40-minute run length. The most dynamic track is undoubtedly Transmigration I. A fusion of melody, savagery, and ambiance are all given their fair share of attention. At the midpoint of this track, ritualistic chanting eases the listener into a pleasant yet short-lived trance. The speed that is displayed on this track honestly seems damn near impossible. The song waltzes dangerously close to dissonance yet never quite descends into madness. All Virtues Ablaze is a thrilling display of restraint and visceral power.
The Sophmore slump is nowhere to be found on this release. This is a focused effort and a masterclass on world-building. The proficiency of this three-piece Canadian band is stunning and nothing short of virtuosic splendor. This four-track forty-minute record is a formula that should not be tampered with. Thrill, ambiance, violence, and harmony coalesce into a perfect amalgamation of sonic brilliance. This record has tremendous replay value and will undoubtedly be a monumental inspiration to other acts in the genre, whether or not it is met with its deserved fanfare.
