SEAR BLISS „Glory & Perdition”

Genre: Epic Black Metal
http://www.searbliss.hu

Heavy metal

It hasn’t been a big year for Black Metal. That’s what I think anyway. Aside from releases from Norway’s Khold and 1349, there hasn’t really been anything else to get overly excited about. No doubt, the pending Dark Throne masterpiece will put a fair dent in that opinion. As I write, the new Cradle of Filth sits beside me also – maybe that will surprise. As much as I look forward to blather on about those two discs, both will need to be on their game to match this outstanding piece of darkness from Hungary’s Sear Bliss.

Formed in 1993, ‘Glory and Perdition’ is Sear Bliss’ sixth release (five full lengths and an ep). Read again – SIXTH!! Yet, despite their almost veteran status, they still remain a rather ‘kvlt’ underground act. Whilst the Norwegian/Swedish Black Metal mafia has been receiving hype and publicity over the past decade, Sear Bliss has always been there in the background doing their own thing. And this is the perplexing thing about Sear Bliss’ profile – their style and material has always been ‘original’ in sound, and far more superior that many paint-by-numbers Euro Black Metal acts, yet they’ve never been able to establish a growing audience. ‘Glory and Perdition’ should change that.

Signed to the mighty underground label Red Stream (who know their shit folks!), Sear Bliss has delivered what is possibly their strongest and most cohesive album yet. As good as their last two albums were (Forsaken Symphony and Grand Destiny), I am a massive fan of 1997’s ‘The Haunting’. This was the album the put Sear Bliss on the map for me. Playing an epic, atmospheric Black Metal style, their sound was punctuated by ‘Brass’ instruments – namely Trombone and Trumpet. The results were breathtaking and original. I was floored – I have held this band in high regard ever since.

With ‘Glory…’ Sear Bliss has once again maintained the ‘Brass’ elements in their sound. It is a signature component of their sound – believe me, you won’t hear anything like this from any other band. Furthermore, their music continues to develop and grow, always offering up something a little different to what their contemporaries put forth. Sear Bliss has always been able to find a tremendous balance in their music. Their ability to deliver a raw, harsh blast beat style amid mid tempo segments and grandiose keyboard elements is truly outstanding. You want examples – try the ferocious ‘Night Journey’ and then listen to the brooding darkness of ‘Blood Serenade’ (a truly colossal epic monster!!) As a result, the music is always varied and never one paced or lacking in ideas. The guitar work of Csaba Csejtei and Istvan Neubrandt must be commended here also – their riffs are inventive and interesting, whilst their lead work dramatically accentuates the ‘epic’ quality of the bands sound. The production of Viktor Sheer is phenomenal – the bands harsh black guitar sound cutting through in fine style, whilst the trombones are placed prominently within the mix without ever becoming overbearing. There are so many layers working in unison on this – the result is one extremely powerful sound.

For fans of epic black metal with a simply grand and uplifting feel, Glory and Perdition is essential. Without question, for me it is the haunting brass elements of this band that gets me every time. However, I must admit that I’ve never taken as much notice of vocalist Andras Nagy as much as I have with this album. His style has always been utterly harsh and ‘grim’ laden (and affected by language barriers) but on ‘Glory..’ his performance is more dynamic and littered with more personable vocal inflections.

With some truly stunning artwork and accompanying booklet, Red Steam has once again outdone themselves in terms of presentation. Hopefully, some extra promotional effort will be afforded to Sear Bliss so that the punters can get to hear this band. Sear Bliss remains one of the last undiscovered Black Metal gems in Europe. As quality exponents of a truly uplifting epic black metal sound, their whole catalogue is a bomb. Get everything they’ve done; Get ‘Glory and Perdition’.

note: 9.3/10

Tracklist

1. Birth Of Eternity
2. Reverie
3. Night Journey
4. Glory To Perdition
5. Two Worlds Collide
6. Ode To A Dying Star
7. Shores Of Death
8. Dreams Spectre
9. Blood Serenade
10. Lacus Somniorum