VzörbrëzV (France) - Staircase of Hell (Album 2023)

After 4 years of existence, VzörbrëzV’s debut full-length is finally upon us. After a prolific journey, starting with 2019’s seminal compilation/manifesto of the infamous Garde Noire collective, the duo, formed by two of the main stalwarts of the circle, has since breed 3 demos, one EP and one split, and now finally their full-length opus arrives. Condensing their sound into the essential, “Staircase of Hell“ follows a line closer to that of the band’s 2021 EP, “Ébloui de ténèbres“. With less focus on the Black Ambient elements VzörbrëzV has stripped down its sound to the portentous, mid-paced, sulphurous Raw Black Metal that it channels from the putrid influence of the LLN, particularly acts like Séviss or Dzlvarv, or of course, reminiscing with the seminal years of the Portuguese Black Circle, like Mons Veneris and Vetala, the last one being particularly noticeable in the spontaneous, cacophonic, twisted guitar leads that often burst upwards from the pits of hell. Get cradled into a state of hypnagogia by these neverending, droning and riffs of decrepit guitar swirling, oddly hypnotic in their primitive but oblique ways, and be embraced by death, in hellish hallucinations, and tormented by the Tksräa M.’s idiosyncratic, terrifying vocals, as if pronouncing infernal liturgies. The Ambient elements only resurface on the interlude, “Night’s Embrace“, and “Her Death Stare“, with haunting and twisted keyboards not too unlike the abyssal, atlantean enchantments of Conjuro. This release also features the excellent contribution of Khaosgott (Cénotaphe, Frozen Graves, etc.) on lyrics and guest vocals on “Ivresse Mesquine“ Released on cassette format via Asylum Tenebris. LP format to follow via Altare Productions. Asylum Tenebris: Altare Productions: Tracklist: 1 Staircase of Hell 00:00 2 Bone Seeds 04:42 3 Rainbow of Death 09:18 4 Night’s Embrace 13:24 5 The Midnight’s Hour 15:52 6 Her Death Stare 20:18 7 Ivresse Mesquine 25:03 8 The Final Arrow 29:19 All rights belong to VzörbrëzV and Asylum Tenebris. Video uploaded with permission.