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...
210326   Pit Of Despair/Woods Mattress...
210326   RDKPL - Color Noise Wall
210326   Simon Berz - Tectonic
190326   Fallen Sun - Parallel Disalig...
190326   Kleistwahr - The Battlefield ...
190326   Opaque - Qakes
190326   Delinquent Schoolgirls - Deli...
190326   Play Dead - Play Dead( VOD)
190326   Coven of the Black Cube - Co...
190326   Cape Cod Cthulhu - Cape Cod C...
Latest Articles

Cliff Twemlow On Severin - Mancun...
One of last year’s real big surprises in the world of Blu-ray box sets was Bloody Legend: The Complete Twemlow Collection, as it was a wholly entertain...
030326   Cliff Twemlow On Severin - Ma...
260226   The Fall - Repetitious Histor...
290126   Crude ‘n’ Hope-corroding ...
231225   Creepy Images Books - Killer Art
221225   Best Of 2025 - Music, Sound &...
041225   The Spectral Sounds of The Pr...
281025   Michael Hurst Interview - Unb...
071025   Xiphos - The Rise And Fall Of...
030925   Third Window Films - A Label ...
130825   HNW fest- Barcelona- 12th Apr...
Go Up
(c) Musique Machine 2001 -2025. Twenty four years of true independence!! Mail Us at questions=at=musiquemachine=dot=comBottom