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There’s no two ways about it – NOLTEM are a force of nature.
The US triumvirate forge the kind of folk-infused atmospheric dark/black metal that washes over you and feels as vital as life itself; emotional yet exhilarating, and all-around breathtaking. Their carefully constructed soundscapes first came to light in embryonic form when the gifted Max Johnson (ex-Aegrimonia and Wind Through The Trees) birthed the project in 2003, releasing the Agalloch-like Hymn Of The Wood demo in 2005 and then placing the project into hibernation shortly after, when a label could not be found for his next work. Seasons passed, the world turned… until in 2015 Noltem re-materialized with the Mannaz EP. Backed by new permanent member John Kerr (Marsh Dweller, Seidr, Pyrithe) and a number of guests (including Austin Lunn of Panopticon recording John‘s drums), the three songs represented a clearer vision and growing power. Now, with the lineup strengthened by the addition of Shahlin Shah on bass, that vision has been fully realized, almost discarded and transformed into something immense and elemental… the long awaited debut album, Illusions In The Wake.
Three tracks are already streaming (the title track, ‘Ruse‘ and opener ‘Figment‘), but what we are proudly and humbly assisting in unveiling today is something special. An album centerpiece, ‘Beneath The Dreaming Blue’ is… well, our erudite scribe GOS of Order ov the Black Arts was so taken by it that he interprets the track in his own way below. So, read his words, immerse yourself in the swirling, darkened waters of this remarkably captivating composition and grab yourself a pre-order via the mighty Transcending Obscurity Records. Releases October 15th. You will be overcome.
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Like waking up gradually into a lucid, surreal dreamstate, this track comes on slowly; meandering acoustic recurrence over nonchalant percussion which seems to unfurl in jazzy eddies. Pleasant intoxication takes a more aggressively delirious turn with the addition of distorted strings and harsh vocals for a time. One begins to have more of a sense of agency and freedom, curiosity and exploration, with the emergence of the lead guitar; which then joins the current and is incorporated into the lazy, yet powerfully churning tide. Though it is subtle, there is something on the horizon of awareness – a faint rush of turmoil, building inertia of the imagination’s molecules through another progression of clear, warm bass guitar, cresting riffs, roaring vocals and casually stylish drumwork. Suggestion becomes a certainty about midway through the track as what had previously been floating along effortlessly begins to gain obvious momentum; with an apex which overflows into a expansive, beautiful cascade of more aggressively mid-paced progression, spiraling guitars, and crystalline clean vocals.
Strangely, there does not seem to be an endpoint for this deluge. No cauldron in which the torrent may cease its descent – which incidentally suddenly starts to feel like a simultaneous expansion, like agitated molecules dispersing or diffusing in all directions as they fall. All instruments are in perfectly intentional, heavily melodic, vaguely sorrowful and almost violently dazzling sync for this final plummet… until, at last, they impact a sudden peace. All we are left with is the sound of waves, crashing over us as we slowly sink ‘Beneath the Dreaming Blue’.
Illusions In The Wake releases October 15th via Transcending Obscurity Records.
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Pre-order Illusions In The Wake on CD, LP and digital from Bandcamp HERE or the Transcending Obscurity webstore HERE.
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