For all that one man can accomplish largely on his own, people's expectations tend to be tempered to be more reasonable rather than bombastic. It is usually the case that a single person cannot account for the talent necessary to bring an entire album to life be it in a simpler form or one that is magnificently complex in nature. Time and time again, the madman of Markov Soroka has proven to be one of the craziest masterminds in the entirety of the underground with many different acts across several styles showing us just how capable and talented the man is. Whereas some might know him from more recent embodiments of his realms like Drown or Tchornobog, Aureole is the black metal embodiment that arguably really got the ball rolling for Soroka's conquest through the underground. Now, eight years since its last full-length work, Aureole shows off its evolution while also standing as a return to form.
While it's because of works like "Aurora Borealis" that put Aureole itself on the map, what we're given here within "Alunarian Bellmaster" sees the act gaze more upon the stylistic tendencies that were seen in its initial album, "Alunar". Having come prepared with an arsenal of thirty sampled bells to really bring the themes and cosmic backdrop of Aureole to life in spectacular fashion, what's been accomplished within the mysterious depths of "Alunarian Bellmaster" is unlike much of what the current state of atmospheric black metal is capable of summong with Aureole once again making it clear why it is a being that stands out from the rest. Ominous, hypnotic, and no less than immensely powerful, Aureole is captivating right from the beginning all the way unto its 13-minute ambient finale that seals the deal perfectly for this deep dive into the cosmos which Soroka has crafted for himself. Meditative for much of its length but never once turning down an opportunity to deliver esoteric black metal the likes of which many strive to achieve many times over, Aureole has done nothing but deliver the undeniable supremacy through true mastery and talent on such a scale that demands to be respected at virtually every turn. A mystical trip through the very fabric of a unique cosmos that has so many more sights, wonders, and questions to discover, "Alunarian Bellmaster" is the return of Aureole that many of us were hoping for.
Creations such as this are career-defining for every other kind of act out there, but with the like of Soroka behind the wheel such instances have become commonplace. Much like his other acts, the return of Aureole is something that has been highly anticipated for all the right reasons with this effort delivering on every possible promise many times over. Where the veil of night envelops all and the stars shine your way through the truths that only the bells can uncover, "Alunarian Bellmaster" is an experience that needs to be experienced in order to be believed. Even then, the density of the record itself can easily feel impenetrable.
"Alunarian Bellmaster" releases on February 9th via Lupus Lounge!
LISTEN to advanced tracks from "Alunarian Bellmaster" on Bandcamp here.
LIKE Aureole on Facebook here.
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