UMUR
"In Conspectu Divinae Majestatis" is an EP release by Dutch experimental black metal act De Magia Veterum. The 4 track, 14:36 minute long EP was given free for download by the artist in September 2010. The material on the EP was originally recorded for a split release, but that project never materialized. De Magia Veterum is one of dutch one-man army, musician/ producer Mories projects. Besides De Magia Veterum, two of his most prominent projects are the noise act Aderlating and the experimental black/ noise/ drone act Gnaw Their Tongues. Mories output in the last 10 years have been significant, but he almost always delivers quality material.
The music on "In Conspectu Divinae Majestatis" is generally fast-paced blasting black metal with some really venemous, hatefilled and downright caustic raspy vocals in front. Well the vocals are actually mixed pretty low, so in front might be the wrong description here. The soundscape is layered, chaotic and dissonant. Not unlike the structured chaos of acts like Deathspell Omega and Blut Aus Nord. De Magia Veterum is ultimately a different beast with a unique sound though and the 4 tracks on this EP fully demonstrate that. Even though the tracks are only about 3 to 4 minutes long, there are several sections in each track. The tracks are layered and full of details, which make them not only a really aggressive and chaotic listen, but also a very intriguing one. I´m absolutely breathtaken by the sheer compositional genious of Mories. Even in the midst of raw and noisy chaos he is able to incorporate atmospheric moments of stunning beauty and melancholy like in some of the sections in "Empire of Emptiness".
As on all Mories releases from any of his projects, the production plays a key role. Almost like an extra instrument. Mories is not only an excellent composer and musician, but his skills as a producer are also on a very high level.
I find it incredible that someone would offer up such a high quality release for free and I can highly recommend that people who are interested in the more chaotic experimental side of black metal check out "In Conspectu Divinae Majestatis". A 4 - 4.5 star rating is deserved. What a sweet deranged treat.