Visions is the meanwhile forth record of the Hungarian one-man-band Aetherius Obscuritas. With twelve songs and a playing time of over 50 minutes this opus is equipped quite well and stratified, because it disclaimed except one single instrumental all un-metal just as leading and holding over accessories.

With the opening main title Visions it gets lose no time and whipped up immediately fast and driving, whereby the directly appearing as mighty bass line in the background is astonishing and enrapturing, because it grants the music with something very powerful and space-filling. Despite the fast and owing to the vocals also harsh beginning the song develops to a diversified track, wherein it gives extremely fast and lashing passages with great, dark background harmonies as also calm sections with silent, clear chorals and diverse clear toned guitar melodies lending something very lively.

Varied, fast and guitar-emphasized it continues on the following songs, too, which all got designed very different by Aetherius Obscuritas. But it isn't always just driving and fast, atmospheric passages have been embedded here and there offering excellent dark harmonies and fitting in the playing concept perfectly.

As already mentioned the guitar playing is very playful and lively. The six-stringer is almost permanently in action. Catching staggered riffs aren't there at all. Nevertheless the guitar playing isn´t too overload or playful, as riffs and melodies are neither too complex nor too obtrusive, therefore they are often of a profound catchingness. Moreover the pitch alternates often from high, clear tones to deep and mournful, what is catching on perfectly and mighty in combination with the bass as in the title song. Another also characteristic described attribute of Aetherius Obscuritas is the singing, which is loud and strongly distorted and is determining the music authentically, because of its volume and its central position being a dominating sign. Certainly it doesn't drown out thereby, wherefore you cannot say the singing is too loud.

If there is one song that should be covered from Norwegian Ragnarok then it is unequivocally My Refuge in Darkness as Aetherius Obscuritas did. The interpretation by Aetherius Obscuritas is great and the original's equal and thereby slightly rawer and harsher and if I am not deceived also played minimally faster.

Visions turns out to be a very respectable and convincing record, which doesn't treat itself to a perceptible weakness. It is despite the fast basic speed with variation interlarded opus, that doesn't get boring after diverse run through. Sporadically, especially in the fast and catching structured passages, Visions is reminding slightly on elder Taake or maybe even early Ragnarok times. In each case Visions is good Black Metal being harsh and straight lined but at the same time having a vital rate of atmospheric melodies.


Aceust

Translation by: G.P.

01. Víziók (Visions)
02. Mysterious path of desires
03. Kilenc tele a ködnek (Nine winters of mist)
04. Journey to immortality
05. The lockless door
06. Menedékem a Sötétségben (My refuge in darkness) Ragnarok Cover
07. Álom II. (Dream Pt. II)
08. Kövekbe vésett nyugalom (Silence, hewn in stone)
09. Black moorland
10. Who never really left
11. Idegenül (As a stranger)
12. Holtszak (Dead season)


AETHERIUS OBSCURITAS
PARAGON RECORDS