THOS ÆLLA — Sempiternal Mobocracies
Written, arranged, performed, and recorded all by Derrik "Ghoul" Goulding of Father Befouled, THOS ÆLLA is a far-reaching and really well-done solo project. Following up 2021's Abnegation Psalms is his sophomore effort, Sempiternal Mobocracies, an album rife with enough riffing and style meshing to please even the pickiest metalhead. Impossible to pin down and wonderfully happy to evade classification, THOS ÆLLA's latest is a whirlwind of metal, happiness, and musical aplomb.
Deftly mixing black, death, and traditional metal, Sempiternal Mobocracies is a wonderful ride through the mind of Derrik Goulding, and an inspiring one at that. Flowing forth with many different styles, textures, and tempos, the ten tracks on this album not only allow for traditional, external enjoyment, but also for deeper, more introspective journeys. Taking unexpected twists and turns, the guitars lead the listener on a trip through varied metal landscapes, and thankfully the tour narrator follows suit. Sometimes growling, sometimes clean singing, but always on point, the vocals here always match the music and feel like an extra instrument more than ever. In fact, while it's a product of our times to hear more and more complex arrangements produced by one musician, there are often elements that reveal this, although subtle. The more people involved in the creative process, the more natural the evolution of sound. THOS ÆLLA feels different, though, like there is no need for a governor to stop self-indulgence, and the album is based on group decisions. Awkwardly phrased praise, for sure, but there is a really strong artistic merit in not being tied down to one idea, one ideal, and furiously flapping one's wings despite this anchor. Sempiternal Mobocracies plays like it was the heart and soul of three or four people, and Goulding should be praised for his ability to convincingly sound like an entire lineup.
THOS ÆLLA's second album, Sempiternal Mobocracies, is a wonderful trip through all things heavy metal and a brilliant insight into a very tight one-man band. Spread over ten tracks, the listener is treated to quite a journey of sound and emotion through guitars and vocals. If this is any indication of what is instore for THOS ÆLLA's future, it's looking very bright and very interesting.