Quadrivium
Methocha
Soulseller Records
2012
We do not usually present any extreme metal bands on Grande Rock, but when there’s something good it’s almost impossible to slip away. Quadrivium is something more than an extreme metal band, which comes from the homeland of black metal, Norway. As soon as I saw the country of origin, I was sorta sure that I was about to listen to something good and extreme. Yeap, I wasn’t betrayed by my instinct eventually… but there’s a lot going on behind this release.
Back after a four-year hiatus while having expanded their line-up, these Norwegians worked hard, fixed problems they had on their debut and struck back with a very strong sophomore release. They call their music avant-garde metal… but I say if you embellish it with extreme, black, death, dark, atmospheric, symphonic, progressive, classical, heavy, Viking & melodic elements then you’ll possibly have the whole picture of Quadrivium’s music. To make it easier for any of you… just think of a mystical & sacrilegious orgy of Arcturus, Borknagar, Dimmu Borgir, Ulver, Emperor, Vintersorg & Winds under the full moon… the outcome would have been Quadrivium! While writing these lines and listening to the gloomy, obscure & numinous chanting from the last part of “Eye of Mimas”, it feels like I’m entering their irreligious and shadowy netherworld. The album was recorded at various studios all over the world; it was mixed in Tower Studio, France and mastered in Panic Room Studio, Sweden. The sound is vast by any means. There’s also a guest appearance by Carl August Tidemann (ex-Arcturus, Winds).
Quadrivium music & songwriting skills improved dramatically since their debut and keep in mind that this is just their sophomore release. These Norwegians are only just beginning. If you missed the old 90s days when this kind of music was more atmospheric, odd, weird, mystical, dim, creative & pure then Quadrivium is surely one of the few and top choices you have to make in that avant-garde, atmospheric, & extreme music we once adored. “Methocha” is indeed a dusky, arctic, occult & unworldly soundscape for the winter… I favor, come what may…
Back after a four-year hiatus while having expanded their line-up, these Norwegians worked hard, fixed problems they had on their debut and struck back with a very strong sophomore release. They call their music avant-garde metal… but I say if you embellish it with extreme, black, death, dark, atmospheric, symphonic, progressive, classical, heavy, Viking & melodic elements then you’ll possibly have the whole picture of Quadrivium’s music. To make it easier for any of you… just think of a mystical & sacrilegious orgy of Arcturus, Borknagar, Dimmu Borgir, Ulver, Emperor, Vintersorg & Winds under the full moon… the outcome would have been Quadrivium! While writing these lines and listening to the gloomy, obscure & numinous chanting from the last part of “Eye of Mimas”, it feels like I’m entering their irreligious and shadowy netherworld. The album was recorded at various studios all over the world; it was mixed in Tower Studio, France and mastered in Panic Room Studio, Sweden. The sound is vast by any means. There’s also a guest appearance by Carl August Tidemann (ex-Arcturus, Winds).
Quadrivium music & songwriting skills improved dramatically since their debut and keep in mind that this is just their sophomore release. These Norwegians are only just beginning. If you missed the old 90s days when this kind of music was more atmospheric, odd, weird, mystical, dim, creative & pure then Quadrivium is surely one of the few and top choices you have to make in that avant-garde, atmospheric, & extreme music we once adored. “Methocha” is indeed a dusky, arctic, occult & unworldly soundscape for the winter… I favor, come what may…