[Conjured by the spirit of a blash-loving bear, this review has come to be. Don’t know what blash is? Don’t worry, time reveals all.]
Thanatotherion may be an unknown band, but the main brain power behind this project, Ominous Droning, has also made a name as Shelby Lermo of Ulthar. This connection piqued my interest as Ulthar recently recorded one of the most innovative double albums in the current black/death genre. Anthronomicon, and especially Helionomicon, are filled with intense creativity, and I had hoped to find that same spark in this debut Alien Manifesto.
It was clear from the start that Alien Manifesto wasn’t going to be a journey through space, but rather a direct confrontation with a monster. I went into this experience expecting a furious blackened thrash infused with some Lovecraftian magic, and the beginning delivered just that. Alienation Manifesto kicks off with a bang as “Red Cathedral” blasts with relentless thrash metal energy and a healthy dose of synths in the background. This combination works well for me because I like straightforward ideas when they’re executed perfectly. Every now and then, I could hear a very faint hint of Moonlight Sorcery, a band I wouldn’t have expected to mention here.
As the album progresses, it becomes clear that Thanatotherion has plenty of ideas. However, the way they’re executed is somewhat overpowered by the need to fit them all in. The album oscillates between blackened thrash tropes and straight black metal infused with artificial atmosphere which hampers the pacing. Blackened thrash doesn’t need to have a mystique around it, and the choice to have as much annoying background white noise as possible is definitely dragging this album down. I did however also find some good bits — the vocals and the drumming. While the riffs here are solid, but not really memorable, vocals — together with Jason Bursese‘s excellent drumming — often carry the tracks utilizing impressive black metal shrieks and low growls. But songs often lose their ferocity and become bogged down by the many directions they attempt to explore. “Wilczyca” has a more direct Ulthar sound, which made me a happier listener. It even becomes a black metal track at some point, with some death/doom influences. These were nice, but didn’t fit the overall sound.
Alienation Manifesto brims with ambition and creativity, but its execution often falters. The album has a few rough edges and pacing issues, but Thanatotherion deserve credit for their willingness to experiment and push boundaries. Sometimes this comes across as genre fence-riding with tracks like “Nuclear Womb” sounding either like black metal with an industrial backdrop or, as is the case with the last track “Codex Crepusculum”, a fight for space with the ubiquitous synths. Black metal and avant-garde fans will find moments of brilliance amidst the chaos — maybe not in the two omittable interludes, though — while blackened thrash metal fans may feel let down. Dropping the interludes and some of the stylistic choices about atmosphere building would definitely elevate Alien Manifesto to a higher rating.
