A new Deathspell Omega album is always something of an event. Widely acknowledged as representing the cutting edge of black metal for some time now, those enthusiasts of the genre who welcome discordance, progression and - for want of a better word - ‘weirdness’ with their black metal anticipate a new record from the Frenchmen as much as a child looks forward to Christmas morning. And thus Paracletus is unleashed with little warning. We should be used to this by now - Norma Evangelium Diaboli are masters of the ‘bolt from the blue’, no studio reports or video diaries for these chaps, simply an announcement that the record is ready to be released. The music - we assume - will speak for itself.
And speak it does. It was always going to be interesting to see where Deathspell Omega were going to go after 2008’s ‘Fas’ album. A release that took the choking, claustrophobic relentlessness of their sound to it’s zenith, ‘Fas’ to these ears was about as far as they could go with that particular approach. Last year’s ‘Chaining the Katechon’ EP hinted at a ratcheting down of the intensity, of a development of - dare I say it - more melodic textures and was a welcome move. A move that is only intensified with the release of ‘Paracletus’. Yes indeed, with this latest record, DsO have decided to apply the brakes somewhat, restrain their tendency to go for the all-out assault and instead have emphasised the more elusive elements of nuanced, thematic songwriting.
Do not misunderstand me - there is still some of the most abstract, dissonant and unpleasant extreme metal you can hope to find on this record (first track proper ‘Wings of Predation’ is a classic burst of dizzying, jagged violence) but the band have clearly decided to refine their attack and add a not inconsiderable amount of defined themes to the mix. The epic ‘Phosphene’ is perhaps the most striking example of this. Starting out as a classic whirlwind of hallucinogenic aggression, we are swiftly dragged into a captivating labyrinth of stylistic textures, from distended, doom-laden despondence to Isis-influenced post-metal soundscapes. The same too can be said of ‘Dearth’ and album closer ‘Apokatastasis Chaon’ whereby the tried-and-trusted DsO frenzy is tempered with reflection and a sense of considered dynamics. This makes perfect sense - with ‘Fas’, the blastbeat and discordance envelope had been pushed as far as it was possible to go - and it was this writer’s hope that they would embark on a different path, which they have with expected aplomb.
For artists this accomplished, the ability to forge memorable themes from such disparate ingredients is not an issue and therefore, ‘Paracletus’ simply drips with captivating, striking pieces. The aforementioned ‘Phosphene’ is quite possible the jewel in the crown - at over thirteen minutes in length, it is obviously meant as statement of intent - but it encapsulates everything that makes Deathspell Omega what they are and why they are so highly regarded, showcasing a balanced and dizzying array of sonic weaponry. Repeated listening to ‘Paracletus’ reveals ever-more layers to the myriad puzzle-box of perfectly weighted material that lurks within - undoubtedly exceeding the high standards set on the hugely regarded ‘Fas’, DsO once again emerge to set the benchmark.
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