World Terror Committee (2011)

Talent, passion and courage is essential for musicians to make big in metal oeuvre. The current Black Metal scene has many promising and highly talented young bands that have made their presence felt over a half of decade. Acrimonious, Fides Inversa and Ascension are some of them, and now Adustum from Belgium have proved it with their debut album "Searing Fires and Lucid Visions" which was released on World Terror Committee late October 2011. The sheer black art of this band is almost overwhelming. "Searing Fires and Lucid Visions" is the result of four years after the formation of the band. I mention this because many bands tend to quickly release the material they come up with right from the start. But the album is just 30 minutes long! It features four excelsior compositions! It’s not pathetic but I think they could have added three or four tracks more on "Searing Fires and Lucid Visions". Their aesthetic glories are tethered to a humbled and exalted.

The record began with excellent "V.O.H.I.R - Exvocutium Daemonium". The track attested to the vocals maturity as an artist. This track is noteworthy. There is an easy flow of guitars and vocal is melodious, yet highly concentrated on pure evilness. A vicious splendour comes to surface. Ïal Lehmti I'Riv rendered all the lyrics and music and the adrenalin-packed excitement comes with the intriguingly titled “The Eulogy of One Through Three Times Three” is easily the most astonishing. The eleven minutes of searing overtones that will leave listeners in ecstasy. A great deal of hellish guitar melodies and harmonic textures. This is what I like from Adustum. I am looking for bands like this which try to put more thought, ideologies in their music.

I am enthralled by the structures of "Ravenous Copulation upon Her Altar Of Catamenia". “The scent of her flesh lured me in as the death of a million children began”. The lyrics and the delineation of the guitars are noteworthy. It really creates a great tremendous melodic mood and it reaches the same heights of the Ofermod and Watain essence in it but considered far more evil and darker than any of them. "Psalm CLVI - The Rites of Lunar Blood" can evoke a contemplative mood. A song which is very close to me as well and my most played track from the album. The ambient interlude makes it more amazing. The album has a unique level of accessibility. From the remnants of the fallen empire of two streams, this album is the unquenchable star of aoens and temptress of all who wander freely and obsessively for wisdom of magic and perfection. One of the best albums I've heard in 2012.

Europe dominates the black metal world in a significant way from the nineties and this domination carries on into the first part of the second decade of the 21st century. Adustum is mature and I would say just knocking on the doors of dominance. However, a lot of work still needs to be done for the band to enter the phase of dominance completely. The challenge for the succession plan begins now. The band is currently well-oiled. It’s a wonderful blend of experience I think. The debut has reached all over the globe through WTC.

The production plays a big role in Black Metal; like in any form of music. I can say that World Terror Committee is constantly releasing top-notch albums these days. Adustum is one of the younger bands that hold the flame high through the music. The dark storm clouds of "Searing Fires…" are still hovering over Europe and worldwide. Behold! A black metal band I do enjoy a lot.

Rating: 5 / 6

Composed by Ebby Sasi