By now, IRAE should require little introduction. Since the dawn of this cursed millennium, mainman Vulturius has prolifically pursued a singular vision of RAW BLACK METAL that includes five full-lengths and countless split releases with likeminded comrades. As such, IRAE have almost singlehandedly invigorated Portugal’s black metal scene, particularly the rawer iteration of it, and with the release of Lurking in the Depths LP last summer, the Korona Winter Rehearsal of Darkness & Evil tape at the bitter end of 2020, and a split LP with comrades ORDEM SATÂNICA and WØMB most recently – all through SIGNAL REX, of course – there’s no sign of that black flame being extinguished anytime soon.
Ever restless, Vulturius returns with one of IRAE‘s most unique recordings, Dangerovz Magick Zpells from the Mesziah of Death. As suggested by its enigmatic title, this is largely IRAE at their most thirsty & miserable – howling, hypnotic, and harrowing, with no redemption nor reprieve in sight – and the sound suits the concept, form matching content like old rot atop ancient moss. Here, Vulturius wrote all the lyrics first and then divided them across four songs. It’s a story written and adapted in a sub-language that Vulturius invented, to not have a common language but something close by. “Imagine you’re possessed and don’t talk things right and give a new formula to things that already exist,” he explains, before qualifying: “I was drunk when I had this idea and put pen to paper.” Imagine, then, the tongue-twisting demi-vernacular not unlike the magickal realm created by the Black Legions’ Vordb for his hordes Belkètre, Brenoritvrezorkre, and Moëvöt among many others.
More concretely, Dangerovz Magick Zpells from the Mesziah of Death tells the story about an old mad wizard who made a deal with supernatural forces to conquer the world. Thusly rising to the occasion, IRAE weave four equally epic spells across a time-expanding yet somehow concise 33 minutes. Each one is as nasty yet magisterial as the last – sickly flowing, ripped raw, and all keenly nuanced – with “Part III” portraying Vulturius at his most ghostly, an almost downer-pop anthem that shows a softer yet supremely sinister side.
With a lot of insights, feelings and a raw and brutal creativity, IRAE takes the concept of RAW BLACK METAL to its limits and it has a lot of early Darkthrone influences. According to expectations, IRAE‘s traditional tremolo-picked riffs are not sophisticated, but they are very substantial and often piercing, like a shimmering darkness and you can check this through all the “IV” parts of the EP. The production is very good, the sound is rather distinct, although the guitar sound is a little bit hollow. However, it gives a certain “true” charm to the recording. Another old school trick: the cymbals are louder than the snare, at least during fast passages – well, this “softens” the sound a little bit, and this is good for a hypnotic effect. Keyboards also appear from time to time, but not so loud and not so often that to break the “true” image of the album – just a little bit, but the atmosphere receives full satisfaction. All sound very agressive, but at the same time it’s melodic, strange melodic: as if something or someone is flying through mountains of corpses. A dark and expressive picture. Like the whole album, generally speaking.
Surprising, yes, but undeniably IRAE…behold these Dangerovz Magick Zpells from the Mesziah of Death!
Rate: 666
You can check IRAE HERE!
