Raw ferocity is an attribute of black metal that other genres don’t always quite reach to the same sort of exuberance. Not in the same visceral way, at least. Stripped down varieties of black metal don’t always pass the smell test – there are still numerous acts who seemingly aspire to sound as fuzzy and unlistenable as humanly possible. However, the point of putting forth an unfettered energy is commendable. Bands who exude said vitality while possessing a robust sonic quality that’s rife with jagged edges is a harder find. Montréal’s Spectral Wound is amongst the finest examples of all of these, having been coldly eviscerating the senses since Terra Nullius in 2015.
Their sound has evolved somewhat since; more recent works such as A Diabolic Thirst being less trebley and more thicker and powerful, whilst never once losing the band’s integral edge. It’s been over three years since the release of said third album, and by their typical time between full-lengths, the timing was right for the next chapter. Sure enough, Spectral Wound has returned with Songs of Blood and Mire in tow.
One may hope for subtle twists and signals of growth in a band with such an established sound, while others may yearn for more of the same sort of vicious to the point black metal posterity. With Songs of Blood and Mire, we’re provided with evidence of both. That isn’t to be taken negatively – quite the opposite, in fact. Spectral Wound brings a primal, riff-fueled assault that is familiar, but do so without becoming laborious or predictable. Screeching feedback and explosive galloping riffage engulfs on “Fevers and Suffering” to provide the perfect setup of what to expect. Touches of melody are spread throughout, working to enhance the faster than fast pacing employed within their vigorously gritty delivery. Vocalist Jonah Campbell’s chilling, raspy screams have never been so biting, adding an authenticity of which is a main component of Spectral Wound’s aura.
Slightly differing purviews of black metal are present – “Aristocratic Suicidal Black Metal” harkens to first wave vibes both in directness and song structure, whereas entries such as “The Horn Marauding” and “A Coin Upon the Tongue” provide memorable melodies twisted within Spectral Wound’s trademark abrasive instrumentation. “Less and Less Human, O Savage Spirit” – love those song titles – is an absolute scorcher, tearing the listener limb from limb with calculated precision. Closer “Twelves Moons in Hell” wraps proceedings in a blissfully chaotic way, containing a few of the most memorable hooks and gripping guitar work present on Songs of Blood and Mire.
At album number four, this is exactly what these ears would hope for from the now firmly established Spectral Wound. The compositions are a hair more dialed in, the riffs assault you like a jagged ice pick to the cranium, and they zig instead of zag in select moments to keep your ears guessing. Most of all, Songs of Blood and Mire is a pulse of frenetic, focused energy from a band that’s on tip top form, showing not a sign of slowing down. Spectral Wound have yet again crafted a record that becomes more ingrained and bombastic with each spin; an unmissable experience for the black metal aficionado.