The psychic carnage of auld cryptic literature in the increasingly frail hands of generations beyond maintains its simplest device with universal efficacy in naming a daimonian presence, depicting shocking terror without ever revealing its physicality in practical scale or defining terms. In this way the mythos of the Old Ones tasks the reader with acknowledging fictive forces through a questioning examination of perception, ultimately funneling the focus of the reader into the trauma of witness as a constant fear. Accepting the idea that an imperceptible or unexplainable occurrence might produce enough terror to irreparably change a mind, and perhaps distort the body ’til death, reconnects an increasingly rare but uniformly desensitized, disillusioned anthropocene ear and eye with the unknown. For example, explaining the unintended psychic influence per the forces from an imperceptible monstrosity the size of the cosmos upon the feckless flora and faunae of one planet may as well land upon current-generational victims of transhumanist social engineering with as much confusion as that of a senior citizen comprehending wireless network protocols two decades ago. What is unknown beyond the limited fortitudes and primitive perception of human beings at present is limitless in its stoke of the imagination as Cork, Ireland-based and Eldritch riff obsessed ‘old school’ black metal summoners Hasturian Vigil arrive upon their debut full-length album and its custom built occult-infused cosmic horror lore in hand. Without preamble and sporting a head full of the Unspeakable One’s aura these devotees to the tried and (still) true traditions of heavy metal introduce their Dimension of Chains within the four longform thrashing-mad pieces of ‘Unveiling the Brac’thal‘, hymnal strides which yank the listener away from their own ego-centric main characterization and impress upon them a profound insignificance, existential nihil in realization of their status as fodder for forces beyond comprehension.

Hasturian Vigil formed some time prior to 2022, wherein we can triangulate a timeline where they’d played their first show in support of Coscradh‘s ‘Nahanagan Stadial‘ release show and that this material appeared well formed enough at that time to have been conceivably writ a year or two prior. The duo’s work is largely the conception of guitarist, bassist, vocalist Cxaathesz (Visceral Gleam, Cursewielder) who maintains his own imprint (Nocturnal Augury) and seems to have formulated this approach following the dissolution of another black metal project ~2021, starting anew alongside drummer Shygthoth (Soothsayer). What the two carry into this band beyond their previous efforts is a combination of experience gained and respect for the tenets of heavy metal as excess-bound rock music, a fusion of interests which include traditional heavy/speed metal (Mortuary Drape, Mercyful Fate), progressive-era classic rock structures (King Crimson, loosely) and an overall late 80’s black metal sense of spacious grave-bound morbidity which warrants some vague comparisons to late 90’s Absu and Zemial alongside modern acts (and labelmates especially) such as Funereal Presence. The vitality of their own concoction lies within the ease of 80’s heavy metal and the storming buzz of black-speed metal adjacency which arrives with its own ‘epic’ yet eerie stature which attempts to illustrate dark cosmic horror with classics-minded (but not plainly imitative) heavy metal.

An incidental existence set beneath the wrath of hateful deities. — The horror of insignificance is illustrated throughout the diabolic scenery of ‘Unveiling the Brac’thal‘ intending the ego-death of and nihil felt within as the individual recognizes their powerless state alongside the futility of the human species as a whole. The album’s theme seems to propose an unseen entity (the Brac’thal) as a being which despises all that it has created, to the point that witnessing its power not only changes and distorts the individual but that maim, insanity and death will follow swiftly after. The world that Hasturian Vigil are building in their kosmische vision of indomitable pantheon and the wide-eyed horror of the powerless in response is appropriately dark, clear enough in Cxaathesz‘ concept and points of inspiration once a small chunk of context is given. Their presentation is thoughtful but not neck deep in its pretense, creating a well above-average presentation for anyone prone to approach a lyric sheet with curiosity and some expectation of refined imagery. Pair this with artwork from Unyielding Love vocalist Richard Carson (Canopic Ire), a depiction of the wrath of the Brac’thal upon the flesh when revealed, and without question this debut LP comes incredibly well prepared for its first and lasting impression.

Four songs which average ~8-10 minutes each present numerous movements in various levels of tension but fairly steady speed/heavy metallic meter as Hasturian Vigil craft an run-on, seamless roll between strident and menacing ideas. The first example of their more brimming energy comes into view with the ~11 minute opening stance of “Ikaath the Seven Horned”, a slow-build to a black metal groove which uses a few darting riffs and a meandering lead to gradually introduce its speed metallic torso around ~3:25 minutes in. As the band explore something like five variations on each riff over the course of every two minutes before moving onto the next Cxaathesz‘ vocals frame the thrust of their statement with well spaced and demonstrative palate-rasped performance, the narration of this first song is retched out in an infernal blackened affect which softens as the final third of the song worms in a few glowy synths and begins to drift out of frame. Taking in that first song no doubt it’ll appear aloof, ancient and delivered with far more indirect nuance than an album like ‘Realm of the Damned‘ even if their aim is somewhat similar but the ‘Blood Fire Death‘-stoked side of Australian black metal wouldn’t be an unfair reference in approach of “Apparitions of Torment” as its focused yet performative riffcraft turns the page toward the Negative Plane-esque side of things with its trilled verse riffs and the trotting kick of the drums in between fits of blasts. To suit this song and its eventual heavy rock bound intermissions and leads the vocals take on a more directly wrathful rasp, often completing phrases with a loud-whispered hiss.

Tuneful enough for the traditional heavy metal crowd yet enough of a black metal thrall to incite violence the two sides of the Hasturian Vigil experience are best represented on “Nine Bellowing Hounds” where NWOBHM-tinged riffcraft and entrenched black metal whipping are skillfully given a related enough pathway from one to another and back again in the space of its run-filled and faster cracked-at ride through. The riff count becomes varied enough in the passage between these worlds that it reads as slick, very much in the way that the emergent moments from the first Malokarpatan record had stoked some extra traditional heavy metal interest so do the sensibilities explored by this duo but of course this result feels entirely intentional and focused throughout otherwise; It isn’t just for the sake of their extended length that each of the four songs on ‘Unveiling the Brac‘thal’ feel palpably epic, ancient yet exaggerated in scope, and to the point that they’re almost too laid back in developing each statement. On one hand their sound is all the more distinct for this steady-going, intricate approach to various heavy metal/rock modes though on the other hand they never quite hit upon a truly wrathful storm of brutality along the way.

The corridors and the details within all leave a dent, a strong impression which encouraged quite a few repeat listens on my end. Though I was left feeling like ‘Unveiling the Brac’thal‘ could’ve used some manner of additional bookending to frame its wiles into feature, as is I’d found repeated listens initially presented a somewhat aimless thread to follow which soon revealed a sensical and well-structured path. Though I wasn’t sure what to make of this debut LP to start Hasturian Vigil have done well to fit into a certain traditionalist sensibility founded on the riff and given stylized venture and in doing so creating their own complete and considered version of black/heavy metal. This bodes well for what they’ll create in the future as their realm continues to flesh itself out and of course it makes for great listening without much of a temporal demand (~36 minutes) overall. A high recommendation. [82/100]

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