Cistvaen – At Light’s Demise
Cistvaen – At Light’s Demise
Self-released
Release Date: 05/04/24.
Running Time: 57:45
Review by Paul Hutchings
6/10
Cheery and joyful – not something you will find in any description of the debut album by the Atmospheric Black Metal of Cistvaen, the five-piece from the Southwest of England. It’s been a long time for the band to finally get this release out, although I am sure it’s not for desire or want of trying.
The first thing to say is that this is a long album. Seven tracks stretch over nearly an hour, meaning most songs are in typical Black Metal style, elongated and expansive. The second thing about “At Light’s Demise” is that whilst it’s certainly atmospheric and refined in comparison to their earlier EP “Under the Silent Meadow Skies”, there’s nothing here that is going to really grab you, shake you, and leave you astonished. No, although “At Light’s Demise” is a solid and enjoyable black metal album if you enjoy this type of music, and is performed to a decent standard, there is nothing breathtakingly new, and compared to some of their peers, just a little predictable in parts.
Shimmering tremolo riffs, thunderous blast beats, oppressive, dark melancholic passages, harrowingly screamed vocals; they are all present and correct on the black metal tick list. After all, this is the genre and style that Cistvaen has chosen and have developed their sound accordingly since their formation in 2016. And in places, it works well. They certainly do mournful, introspective misery with aplomb. However, a listen to ‘Cessation of Hope’, ‘The Epitaph’ and ‘Time the Mournful’, that make up the majority of the first part of the album may leave you a little unimpressed. All lengthy songs, following the same pattern, with crushingly heaviness followed by gentle, melodic interludes before the songs steadily increase in tempo to reach their violent crescendos, it’s difficult to distinguish which is which.
Guy Taylor’s vocals are guttural, harsh, combining low growls with frantic screams. They do, of course, fit with the band’s sound which is based on their thematic and lyrical inspiration of their home, the bleak Dartmoor landscapes as well as touching on the darker themes of mental health and depression.
One does wonder though, if on occasion, a burst or two of clean singing, with some harmonies would help expand the sound a little and help to vary the intensity. It’s all just a little too repetitive, and unlike UK counterparts Winterfylleth, Agrona, and Ofnus, there isn’t the same subtle switches to keep the listener involved. By the conclusion of ‘Time the Mournful’, I was convinced that I’d heard the same song again and again.
There is plenty of clean guitar that soars and sings amidst the maelstrom that the band craft. It’s the blistering blast beats that anchor most tracks and provide the necessary propulsion with the bass lines that are intricate and weave their way organically through the songs.
But I am possibly being too critical of Cistvaen, for there is much here that is good. ‘Bleak House’ follows the same pattern of previous songs but stands apart for some reason that I can’t fathom. I think there is more of a hook and a little additional melody which makes it a more interesting listen.
Except for the gentle acoustic interlude of ‘Silver Birch’, the songs contained on “At Light’s Demise” are, in my opinion, a little too long. Yes, there needs to be lengthy passages to create the atmosphere needed, but a couple of blasting four-minute tracks would have provided a little balance. ‘The Blind Observer’ which concludes the album is just shy of 12-minutes in length, and after four, nine-minute songs and one not far short of eight minutes, this may be the final challenge which proves a little much. It’s one of the best songs on the album, with a fluidity that flows nicely throughout.
As usual, ultimately it is down to the listener to decide. Black metal is a genre that can blow you away or leave you cold. Cistvaen don’t do either. Which may be the worst review they can have. And for that I apologise, for there is plenty to admire here. It just didn’t do it for me.
TRACKLISTING:
01. At Light’s Demise
02. Cessation of Hope
03. The Epitap
04. Time the Mournful
05. Bleak House
06. Silver Birch
07. The Blind Observer
LINE-UP:
Guy Taylor – Vocals
Ed Wilcox – Drums
Lee Meade – Guitars
James Mardon – Bass
Mark Sanders – Guitars
LINKS:
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