Greek band Hail Spirit Noir was founded in 2010 by Haris (synths) and Theoharis (vocals, guitar) who are both also members of the avant-garde/ symphonic combo Transcending Bizarre? and the prog band Rex Mundi. Having worked for eighteen months on the material they then brought together some session musicians to assist them in releasing what is in many ways a very strange album indeed. While their musical base appears to be in black metal, they have brought in many elements that aren’t normally considered part of that genre. It is as if they have taken some of the rawness of Darkthrone, the folk elements of Negură Bunget, the progressiveness of Opeth and then thrown in elements of horror films and psychedelia to create something that in its’ totality is quite unlike anything else around.
Vocal styles are mixed up, there is loads of light to complement the dark and in many ways this is a truly progressive album. Mastered by Jens Bogren, Sweden (Opeth, Katatonia, Amon Amarth) and ixed by Dim Douvras (Rotting Christ) the sound is superb, while the artwork by Jesse Peper (In Solitude) definitely gives the feeling that the silver disc contained within is something quite special. At just 36 minutes long it is short by today’s standards, but hopefully that means that the new one will soon be on the way.
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