It’s nice to take a brief break from the political horrors of the United States, and focus on something more pleasant. I’ve reviewed essentially all of my other top 5 albums from 2023 earlier this year, and left the choice cuts for this month. Today’s review is of my remaining honorable mentions, and for a possible first for this blog, is a Split EP. An EP that mixes the infamous subgenre of Black Metal, with a musical style you think would absolutely mutilate it, but instead combines into a released that surprisingly unique. So, put on your finest Corpse Paint, plug in your finest machinery, and enjoy the collaboration of Lumnos & Abstract Void by the name.....of A Glitching Reality. Let’s begin!
Background
And this is where things get interesting, as I have not one, but two musicians to talk about here.
Let’s start off with Lumnos. Forming in 2015 in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia (Brazil), Lumnos started as a duo, but would dissolve into a one-man band in 2016, only for guest musician B.M. to come on in 2018 & helped make the 2018 release Ancient Shadows Of Saturn. Whether B.M. has stayed with Lumnos or not since then, I don’t know. Then there’s Abstract Void, and here is where things get harder, as I can find almost nothing. What little I’ve found is that Abstract Void comes from Italy, and according to the Bandcamp page:
“One-man project from the planet Earth. An experimental blend of blackgaze and synthwave.”
(I know this wasn’t a lot of information on both groups, but sadly there isn’t a lot out there)
Basic Description
Blackened Cyberpunk
In a move similar to when I first experienced Everfrost a little over 5 years ago, I wasn’t exactly sure that Black Metal & Electronic/Techno would work well together as partners. I had listened to some isolated examples of this mix, and I certainly liked it, but A Glitching Reality is where I would come to love the two coming together. Like I said above & when I said it last year, I consider this combination of musical styles to be what I call Blackened Cyberpunk: you’ve got the brutality of the Black Metal, and you have the futuristic vibes coming from the Electronica & Techno. Putting the two into one seems like an odd move, but much like Winterider in 2019, it’s a mix that just works wonderfully. Like you’re wandering a typical Cyberpunk city, but there’s an air of dark mysticism in the streets. Think like Shadowrun, or if you want to go down the 3rd Party D&D path, think Crystalpunk.
Best Track
On the Lumnos side of the EP, I have to give it to The Alchemist as the best song. The track that pulled me into the music, this take on Black Metal is really unique: it goes through the typical Black Metal movements, but it’s far more mesmerizing & Third Eye opening than anything I ever heard thanks to the Electronic elements. If anything, The Alchemist sounds & feels rather dreamlike, and even the lyrics seem to be different to what Black Metal normally is. Here’s the first big chorus of the song:
“Walking through the sand, through the sand
Blessed by the winds and the sky
Guiding my sheep through the mirage
Feeling the sun burning my skin
My golden horizon shines
Calming all my thoughts and fears
Daydreaming and blessed by God
I know I just have to hold on one day more”
The Alchemist
Then we have the Abstract Void side, and it’s hard to not get a kick out of Forever. Like I said above, Abstract Void has heavy 1980s flavorings with his music, and it’s readily apparent as you listen to this. I imagine having this play over the speakers of my car as I’m driving through 1980s Miami, but I got infernal beings chasing me at the same time. It is a little easier to hear the two styles, as the instrumentation & the electronica come across as slightly more separated when you compared it to Lumnos’s portion of the EP.
Forever
Worst Track
A Glitching Reality’s only real crime is it’s surprisingly short playtime. Composed of just 4 songs and clocking in at 24 minutes & 1 second, it goes by incredibly fast, which is weird because it doesn’t feel like it’s fast. Unter Bronzenen Kronen from Waldgefluster suffers from a similar issue (Read Here), but like that release nothing is ultimately impacted because of this.
However, if I wanted to be honest, perhaps another dent in this otherwise’s great armor would be it’s lack of physical availability. To play devil’s advocate I can understand why it’s not on a CD, because sometimes it’s a smart idea to save money, but at the same time it would be nice to see it in a jewel case, and have it among my collection of albums.
Other
If you’re curious about listening to this, then click on the link below:
A Glitching Reality
Overall Impression & Rating
A Glitching Reality is just a funky little number. Definitely on the short side for sure, but that is compensated by being some really interesting sounds & vibes. Again, I was really surprised when two musical styles you’d think wouldn’t work together, come together to make something rather unique.
A Glitching Reality gets an 8 to 8.5 out of 10.
And that was my review for the first split EP I’ve ever covered, A Glitching Reality. An interesting take on Black Metal, it definitely satisfies the taste of those who like the style performed different. I’ll show off the last no. 1 album of 2023 later this week, and after that we have the holiday season incoming. Until then, take care.
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