Fonsadera - Macabre Damp [Inferna Profundus Records - 2022]Macabre Damp is a prime example of wonkily raw ‘n’ grimly unwell blacked metal. It’s a six-track affair- that stumbles, unevenly gallops, bleakly rattles, and at points lurches on with its crude BM path- making it both a darkly pained, and unbalancing experience. Fonsadera (formerly known as EYÁVBËG) are a Mexican project- it seemingly features just one main member Vhéinzarm A'he'cytäír - All Instruments, lyrics and vocals. Macabre Damp is the project's first release, under this name- it originally appeared in September 2021, as a digital download on Mexico Cities APOTT Records. This new release is a black vinyl pressing on Lithuania’s Inferna Profundus Records, who of course have a good grounding in releasing the more crude and unwell side of BM/ related- so a perfect home for this album.
We open with the thumbed/ pitched wavering bass tone, shimmering bells, and fed through a melting tape choir vocals of “Versiculum I”. Onto the snaping ‘n’ hissing drums meet buzzing-yet-wonky riff churn of “Versiculum III” which is bookend with backwards/ warped metallics, which gives the impression of tape player about to unreel. “Versiculum IV” is all galloping BM in smarting clouds of cymbal hiss, as the vocals roughly bay ‘n’ moan.
The album is finished off with the nine-and-a-half-minute bonus track “Versiculum V-VI” which opens in a churning hazy storm of blackly scrabbing guitars, discordant leads, muffled barks, and smarting drums. At the three and a half minute a wavering-badly played church organ weaves in, the pace stumbles as more mumble hissing vocal bays appear- before it disappears and we roughly speed off again, as waving & pained moans are added.
Of late Inferna Profundus Records has been one of the key BM labels unearthing some grimly wonky blacked metal gems, and Macabre Damp is yet another great example of this!. For those who like their BM barely hanging together, and deep in crude/ necro atmospherics- this is for you!. Roger Batty
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