Artist: Ofnus
Title: Valediction
Type: Album
Label: Naturmacht Productions
Ofnus are a relatively new Welsh band whom I became aware of due to a previous review on Ave Noctum of their 2023 debut and a good number of friends waxing lyrical about them. So I took a chance and bought the debut and was happily truly impressed by their distinct take on, as they say ‘atmospheric, epic, melodic black metal’.
So here with have their sophomore album, packaged once more in a gorgeous A5 sleeve with a desolate but mesmerising painting on the cover and off we go.
‘The Shattering’ is the opener, a surge of fast drumming and a deeply melodic guitar line with the harsh black metal vocals begin but it smoothly, effortlessly moves into a deeply melodic zone. There’s turbulence here, a little touch of that empoeror sound of yore but then this absolutely heart breaking guitar break just takes it away into another realm. We are moved through doomy sections, moments of progressive introspection but always back into a beautifully smooth and drum powered sound. The vocals are expressive, clean backing vocals accompany the harsh leads occasionally and together they somehow bring a sense of the wild to the song.
It’s an interesting question for me as to where does atmospheric and melodic black metal end and melodic death metal begin? Here, as we progress into ‘Reflections Of Delusion’ we get an even greater feel of a progressive sound being embraced. Whilst still for me remaining in that broad church betwixt and between Winterfylleth and Fen, there are undeniably broad strokes that equally will call to mind the approach of early Opeth and even UK melodeath stars Countless Skies, and yet then the keyboards and the drumming reach out and drag you into an undeniable snarl and howl of black metal, It’s a truly impressive dance. The members of Ofnus may have a deep history in the UK scene but even so the progression from first album to this is quite breathtaking.
The next thing to say is that here Ofnus are not really interested in short songs. Seven tracks and as good as an hour of music makes this a hefty composition to absorb and so don’t expect to do it in a first sitting. But, and this is just fantastic, it will grab you immediately hard enough for you want to explore the depths of the the likes of the more angry ‘Throes Of Agony’ or the truly epic ‘Proteus’ with its curiously undulating feel to open with.
‘Zenith Dolour’ as its name would suggest casts a far more doom ridden gaze upon things. At time ponderous but never dull, it picks its melody and weaves it in a subtle and grey depressive manner through its ten minute length. ‘Valediction’ in contrast has a sound which conjours the cover perfectly for me; an intense but hazy glowing ember of a world, a vigil and just that whispered voice that says, softly, see, I told you so…. ‘Alazia’ being the fulfilment of that in a more direct and relentless, gradual pressure reaching out to crush your hopes.
Valediction is a long listen, and a deep one. Despite their touch for melody, it requires you to set aside time to listen and follows its ways. But when you do it glows with an eeerie internal light full or portents and the sound of harbingers. Wild, epic and beautifully focussed this is a glorious second album indeed.
Gizmo
Walking The Liminal Space 