Ershetu create Black Metal of the most cinematic and evocative sort and their latest album ‘Yomi’, a concept album that explores the Japanese death-lore Shinto, is very much entrenched in the rousing aesthetic initially explored on their 2023 debut album ‘Xibalba’.
Featuring Vindsval of Blut Aus Nord fame on vocals, bass and additional guitars, Sacr who is responsible for the music and arrangements alongside Void who is behind the concept and lyricism and Intza Roca on Drums and Percussion, Ershetu craft the type of transcendental Black Metal that is at once, textured, atmospheric, otherworldly and odorous.
Beginning in an ominous fashion, opening track ‘Ketsurui’ ends up barreling forth at a midtempo pace where a myriad of stylistic motifs are explored within the confines of its sonic narrative. There is a distinctly melancholic tone that pervades through this track that fuels its pomp and theater.
As a project formed specifically to mine the lore of death through the lens of different cultures, Ershetu succeed at their directive. With its propulsive tempo, sorrowful feel, tinkling keys alongside its confluence of clean and grunting vocals, ‘Jikoku’ is a bit to pretty for my taste. From four minutes on it becomes a preferable experience as it mines darker sonic territories which had me pumping my fists skyward in triumph.
There is undoubtedly a highly pronounced progressive aspect to the Black Metal Ershetu craft. Although this is a good thing I find more often than not throughout the duration of ‘Yomi’ the overall tone of the album is melancholic rather than malevolent and when it comes to Black Metal I prefer the latter to the former.
With a bevy of traditional instruments and sounds mirroring the culture in which Shinto was birthed, ‘Yomi’ is undoubtedly a iconoclastic and authentic statement yet the chord progressions and wailing on songs like ‘Sekiryo’ do not hold much appeal for me.
Rather then nihilistic and bleak there is a disconsolate timbre to songs such as ‘Kagutsuchi’ that left me numb.
‘Nenokatasukuni’ on the other hand, parts of which I did enjoy, parts in which the riffs and keys mingle together in a triumphant manner where woe gives way to dark majesty were quite exhilarating. Alas for the most part this song to is mired in a doleful timbre.
I appreciate and applaud the sonic vision Ershetu have yet admittedly find that the grandeur that informs their music glistens far more then it growls and alas, being a crepuscular cro-magnon, the sonic caves I frequent, especially those that are steeped in Black Metal need to mired in grit.
-Asher Locketz-