Vehemency Celestia is one of those bands that I should have checked a lot earlier already, but for some unknown reason I never did. It was about time as the band has been active for 15 years now. Connections to Peste Noire should have rung the bells that Celestia is probably good, and Archaenae Perfectii showed that it’s true.

The music itself is nothing unique really, but it is very sweet. Acoustic guitars are often included, sometimes to accompany the black metal (”Phoenemenae of Creation”, ”Dogmatii Duality / Au Crepuscule Sous Les Larmes”) and sometimes they have their own sections or a whole song (”ArcheArcanae Des Parfaits”). The melodies are usually quite twisted, but there’s an overall melancholic atmosphere possessed in this album. Influences of Peste Noire and even Shining are surprisingly clear and sometimes they are on the verge of good taste, I must admit.

The sound is clear, especially the drums and the acoustic guitars. Overall, the album doesn’t sound too polished or too rehearsal quality, it is in good balance. Archaenae Perfectii is a fine half an hour black metal album that really pleases my ears and surely makes me want to check out their earlier releases. One of the first real surprises this year.