Nibiru — Hypóstasis

Working with Argonauta Records for the past ten years, Nibiru have a relationship that has allowed them to grow and experiment, pushing the boundaries of their bleak soundscapes and furthering their reach to an eager world. Their blend of blackened ambient, doom, and industrial is abrasive but enlightening; sometimes one needs to feel it to understand it. Opening like a haunted memory, "Azoth" is a warbling record, the warped chorus creating unease, which slowly turns into despair. Distant and distorted instruments interweave and harsh Italian can easily be mistaken for an ancient Latin ritual. Thick and dreary, the opening to Hypóstasis is reminiscent of Skullflower, with its hypnotic, distorted layers and enveloping tapestry of sound. This hypnosis is well earned, too, with "Azoth" coming in at about twenty minutes in length. Adding delightful tension and terror, the rough vocals enter in without warning or pattern, keeping the listener off guard and under their spell. While the first piece is fairly claustrophobic, "Binah" opens the album up into a foreboding alien soundscape. Sparse, spacey, droning synths hit land in a distorted sandstorm of sound and rhythm, a welcome break from the intense "Azoth." Given adequate space to grow and ensnare the listener, the second piece takes Hypóstasis into a different direction, which continues with "Idolum." The rhythm leads into echoed, spoken words, which soon break into something unexpected - brightness. Like a sunbeam through latticework, the higher tones are coupled with stray piano notes to counter the gruff vocals. Returning to the fuzz onslaught, "Sekhmet" uses thick, undulating feedback to propel the darkness forward. Dark, droning, and diabolical, Nibiru revitalizes the terror from the first track and continues on with their vile ritual. Continuing on, "Shalicu" takes this distortion and allows it to disperse, revealing a thick, heavy, oscillating synth line. This cord connects to another depraved batch of distorted sonics and frenzied vocals before growing to a fevered, noisy pitch. Closing out the ritual, "Obeah" marks another shift in tone, something dark and bubbling, but still hopeful, its notes peaking through the drawn out, distorted instrumentation. Eventually, the darkness gives way and the clean, brass like sounds are the last we hear from Hypóstasis.

Six deep, dark, and challenging tracks, Nibiru's Hypóstasis is an exercise in haunting, ritual industrial, wrapping the listener in thick layers of distortion, oscillation, and screams. Adding another chapter to their strong discography, Nibiru continues to grow and experiment, creating deeper and darker soundscapes. There is beauty in this madness, though, so those looking to listen further and expand their experience should seek out Hypóstasis as soon as possible.