Esoctrilihum – Döth-Dernyàlh (Review)

This is the eleventh album from French one-man black metal band Esoctrilihum.

Over the years I’ve developed a real fondness for the creative blackened output of this prolific artist. 2018’s Pandaemorthium (Forbidden Formulas to Awaken the Blind Sovereigns of Nothingness) started my journey, 2021’s Dy’th Requiem for the Serpent Telepath really made a mark, 2022’s Consecration of the Spiritüs Flesh was harsh and unforgiving, and then last year’s monster triple album Astraal Constellations of the Majickal Zodiac was far more enthralling than anything as long as that had any right to be. Of course, then there’s also the rest of the Esoctrilihum’s discography too, which I haven’t reviewed. For now though, we have the colossal 80-minute Döth-Dernyàlh.

So what’s Döth-Dernyàlh all about then? Well, we’re told it’s a mix of black metal, 12-string folk guitar, synths, and nickelharpa. Buckle up, as it’s a wild ride.

Döth-Dernyàlh is an ambitious and textured album, with large scope and luxurious detail. It’s a folk-rich avant-garde form of blackened metal, for lack of a better description. Its esoteric atmospheres, expressive vocals, (clean and otherwise), and involved soundscapes are captivating. The songs offer a psychedelic journey into unconventional waters. Ripe with melody and epic depth, this is a different Esoctrilihum than we’re used too, but then the artist behind the band has always been a musical shapeshifter.

It recalls to me the late 90s/early 00s,when acts like Arcturus, Dødheimsgard, Sigh, and Ulver were taking their black metal to new and interesting places. I’ll also note that the promo also mentions Xasthur, Leviathan, and Lurker of Chalice. For more contemporary references, I’ll mention bands such as Midnight Odyssey, Oranssi Pazuzu, Panopticon, and Ashenspire, which I was put in mind of at certain moments. Certainly Döth-Dernyàlh has a quirky, atypical personality all of its own though.

Döth-Dernyàlh clearly won’t be a record that appeals to everyone. Its imposing running time alone will put many off, never mind its idiosyncratic and distinctive sound. However, for those with a taste for the avant-garde and the arcane, there is a lot to explore across Esoctrilihum’s latest. Each song is a world unto itself, and the album deserves the time invested to get to know it sufficiently. Will you heed the call and immerse yourself in these colourful and eloquent soundscapes?