This is the fourth album from French solo black metal act Inherits the Void.
From 2021’s Monolith of Light to 2023’s The Impending Fall of the Stars to Scars of Yesteryears, the artist behind Inherits the Void seems to refine and tweak his vision for atmospheric/melodic black metal just that little bit more with every release. Which brings us to The Silent Abscission. It is the longest Inherits the Void album so far at 47 minutes in length, so what does this new record have to offer fans of this quality act?
Something familiar, but also a little different, as it turns out.
The Silent Abscission is characterised by a compelling mixture of violence, atmosphere, and emotion. The music is fast and melodic, with aggressive bite and dark atmospheric depths to be bravely explored. The songs mix old-school melodic black metal with modern blackened intensity. It’s a feast of blistering speed and barbed riffs, set against blast beats and galloping drums, with expansive mood breaks and an atmospheric coating. The music ranges further than a simple description like this allows for though.
The music is very well-written, with a variety of creative ideas used across the record. The songwriting has clearly had a particular focus on it this time. There is an obvious attention to detail that manifests in a range of ways and places, making for soundscapes with a lot of interest to be had in them. Much of the time these are relatively small additions, enhancements, or flourishes that simply improve the music, making it richer and more impressive. Occasionally, tools are used that are more apparent, yet still well-embedded, such as the synths, saxophone, and clean vocals.
This is also first Inherits the Void album where the artist has brought in a drummer and vocalist to flesh out his sound. The result is vocals that are clearer and higher in the mix, and drums that burn with punishing life. The new band members that the artist has deployed to help round out The Silent Abscission both put in good performances, and it’s clear that this is the most ambitious record from this act yet.
The end result is that The Silent Abscission feels sufficiently different to past Inherits the Void albums to warrant calling it a new era for the band. It’s a record that, despite its obvious immediate appeal, works best over time, allowing the compositions to work their way into you skull. Once there, The Silent Abscission does its best work.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 