Top Bar
Musique Machine Logo Home ButtonReviews ButtonArticles ButtonBand Specials ButtonAbout Us Button
SearchGo Down
Search for  
With search mode in section(s)
And sort the results by
show articles written by  
 Review archive:  # a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Semai - Delubrum [Le Crépuscule Du Soir - 2011]

Semai is a Czech dark ambient/sludge/black metal-ish  one-man band active since 2004. After a handful of demos, singles and splits, "Delubrum" is his first full length.

The album starts with a disquieting mix of slow and creepy piano drops and mellow static noise, slowly building up to a filthy sludge crescendo. Heavily distorted, dooms bass and drum programming slowly creep in the mass of  noise, leaving a trail of feedback and a depressive atmosphere behind. The track's intensity goes up and down like a rollercoaster, creating an interesting and enthralling flow. Track number two sounds like a reprise of the first one, with more digital crunchy static noise surmounted by massive sludge bass drones, barbaric and basic percussion, synth tones, noisy loops  and epic horror piano bashing. The addition of religious chants, while being extremely predictable, fits pretty well with the overall mood of this work.

The layering of sounds, the panning and the composition are quite good and well organized, and Semai manages to avoid the risk of creating an overly elongated black metal intro through the skillful placement of his instruments. The filthy, noisy grain of his bass and digital static elements are never pushed too far, maintaining an aura of restrain and unease and holding together the eerie atmosphere of "Delubrum".

I must say I'm quite positively surprised by this album. While it doesn't offer anything new, it works pretty well for what it is. Semai definitely knows what he's looking for and creates a perfectly shaped and focused product. His mix of noise, dark ambient, black metalish-sludge and moody horror piano might sound juvenile and cheesy, but there's no denying that it's effective and well made. "Delubrum" might appeal to fans of noise, dark ambient and black metal alike. I'm definitely up for more!

Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5

Nicola Vinciguerra
Latest Reviews

Semai - Delubrum
Semai is a Czech dark ambient/sludge/black metal-ish  one-man band active since 2004. After a handful of demos, singles and splits, "Delubrum" is his fi...
190424   Zachary James Watkins - Affir...
180424   Ulvtharm - 7 Uthras
180424   The Bad Shepherd - The Bad Sh...
180424   Impulse - Impulse( Blu Ray)
170424   Jan Jelinek - Social Engine...
170424   Carlos “Zíngaro”, Guilherme R...
160424   The Borderlands - The Borderl...
160424   Rien - The New Source Recording
160424   Worship - Thoughts
150424   Lion-Girl - Lion-Girl(Blu Ray)
Latest Articles

The Music of Clay Ruby & Burial H...
Over the last couple of decades Wisconsin native, Clay Ruby has been creating some of the world’s finest dark electronic music under the Burial Hex mon...
280324   The Music of Clay Ruby & Buri...
290224   Sutcliffe No More - Normal Ev...
100124   Occlusion - The Operation Is...
181223   Best Of 2023 - Music, Sound &...
051223   Powerhouse Films - Of Magic, ...
181023   IO - Of Sound, Of Art, Of Exp...
210923   Lucky Cerruti - Of Not so Fri...
290823   The Residents - The Trouble W...
110723   Yotzeret Sheydim Interview - ...
250523   TenHornedBeast - Into The Dee...
Go Up
(c) Musique Machine 2001 -2023. Twenty two years of true independence!! Mail Us at questions=at=musiquemachine=dot=comBottom