ninehertz

Formerly known as Fatalist, from Leeds, they return as Acceptance, with a new album out through Road to Masochist. It is described as emotional black metal that deals with every day anxiety, a realism that black metal is gladly starting to ground itself in, away from its fantasy or unsavoury (to say the least) roots, and as their live shows and demos/EPs to date have proven, they're a force to be reckoned with. This new album will no doubt push them further into the wider consciousness, beyond the UK underground that already holds them in high regard.

There is a magical feel to it at times - take Empyreal - soaring above the clouds, firmly atmospheric without losing any of its urgency or barbarity, superbly grand. It is black metal that has the primacy, of course, and it has sweeping, vast aura about it, shining bright in the Wolves in the Throne Room end of the genre. There are occasional other elements, the opener Grief introduces sludge tendencies (apt for the title I guess), a fight at the heart of that combination over tempo, the breakneck blood desires of black metal against the mud trudge trawl of sludge. How that battle plays out is fascinating, inflaming as it switches from one to the other with the merest spark.

Then there's Ark, much shorter, more direct, a fevered mania in its driven insistence, a pace that suggests a hardcore source. The final and longest track, Paradise is scenic in its high notes, frenzied below, but I can take or leave it. It's not bad, just doesn't hit home but by no means does it dampen my enthusiasm for what has gone before.

Crucifixion Of Orchids is a blast, you live it as it plays through, testament to the realisation of the emotional black metal they proclaim. They already had momentum and were a name to keep an eye out for, but this elevates them further, into the bracket of UK contemporaries such as Underdark, Still, Ba'al and Wode in terms of the burgeoning, modern day, modern take on black metal.