Deathspell Omega - The Long Defeat (2022)

Deathspell Omega is a French black metal band known for its innovative take on the genre and for its mystical flame. On their new album The Long Defeat, the innovative elements (choirs, post-metal instrumental parts, dissonance, etc.) are the ones we found on previous album, it brings some diversity on the album, even if it is mostly present on the first track (too long and too post-metal). So the mystical flame is not what it used to be, but there is still a strong epic feel on the most traditional black metal parts (with ferocious blast beats and everything), and they still do that expertly. Definitely not a major album for Deathspell Omega, but still head and shoulders above the vast majority of black metal albums.

The Bandcamp page.

 

Deathspell Omega-Drought (2012)

Deathspell Omega is a band very respected as a leading figure among the bands that opened new paths for the black metal genre and widened its scope.  The EP Drought released last summer by Season of mist won't be remembered as one of the most experimental and innovative record of Deathspell omega. Anyway it is a really good record, combining with talent the brutality of black metal and more melodic / ambient post rock moments, moments that on Drought have a kind of "americana" feel, a kind of "desert black metal" vibe, associating warmth and darkness. Maybe that "desert" vibe is the new element in the Deathspell Omega sound brought by Drought. Not a radical change in DO music, but more like a new step in the exploration of its very own style. Like any DO records, if you like quality and ambitious extreme music, it's pretty sure you'll find something that you'll like in it.

Stream it on Bandcamp