Album Review: Grey Aura – Zwart Vierkant (Onism Productions)

Hailing from Utrecht in The Netherlands, Grey Aura create a liquid form of atmospheric black metal. Their second album, Zwart Vierkant is bound tightly to a novel written by Grey Aura’s Ruben Wijlacker. Which tells the story of an early 20th century painter who becomes obsessed with the Russian art movement, Suprematism, which idealises the abstract and rejects traditional artistic concepts.

It follows his journey through Europe, his metamorphosis of soul and spirit, his dreams, awakenings, loves and temptations as he reaches out to the ungovernable maelstrom of the void. The album will be released on CD and vinyl by Onism Productions on May 7th, 2021.

Laying out their elaborate plans from the very start, Grey Aura bring forth dangerous sounding black metal littered with strange atmospheres. The opening track, Maria Segovia is chaotic but in a very measured way. You can tell that Grey Aura know exactly what they’re doing and are looking to challenge your expectations of atmospheric black metal. On this track alone, they chop and change elements where your predetermined mind is trying to take them. It’s constantly surprising and always challenging.

That continues into a raw eruption of black metal that makes up the majority of Rookslierten, Flessen. A track that showcases playful and sinister melodies in equal measures in the latter portion of it. Het Schuimspoor Van De Ramp then sees Grey Aura continue to push the boundaries of atmospheric black metal to startling levels. It’s hard not to be wowed by just how they’re able to pull this level of uncomfortable harshness off.

Two class acts follow. El Greco In Toledo, with its Hispanic touches layered around thick black metal and Parijs Is Een Portaal, with its grand and epic build leading to minutes of wacky, progressive and jazz-club style melodies. Incredible listening.

De Onnoemelijke Verleidelijkheid Van De Bezwijkende Deugd isn’t changing the formula even if it is a much more focused slab of heavy intensity. Although the desperation in the vocals as it begins to slow down is another exceptional layer. Which brings Sierlijke Schaduwmond’s mammoth lumbering out of the shadows. Moving at speed and causing destruction at first, the energy is sapped in an instant for Grey Aura to rise on top of the beast and deliver a passionate but disconsolate speech. Transfixing stuff.

Zwart Vierkant is a boundary pushing listen. Clever, interesting and unique.

Grey Aura – Zwart Vierkant Full Track Listing:

1. Maria Segovia
2. Rookslierten, Flessen
3. Het Schuimspoor Van De Ramp
4. El Greco In Toledo
5. Parijs Is Een Portaal
6. De Onnoemelijke Verleidelijkheid Van De Bezwijkende Deugd
7. Sierlijke Schaduwmond

Links

Website | Facebook | Onism Productions