Every now and again, we hear about asteroids or other objects that come close to our planet and potentially threaten life on our planet. About 200 million years ago, that real event happened, called the Chicxulub impactor that slammed into the Yucatan Peninsula and wiped the dinosaurs and other life forms from the planet. Life never was the same.

Botanist, the avant-garde black metal project long helmed by Otrebor (who plays hammered dulcimer and keyboards), spent the bulk of 12 albums and other mini releases detailing the events of the fictional Verdant Realms. But on their new album “Paleobotany,” the travel far into the past when the dinosaurs walked, the forests had started to turn into coal, and humankind had not yet begun their assault against the natural world. Here, Botanist slip back into their full-band mode with Mar handling vocals, Tony Thomas (also of Circle of Ouroboros) playing bass, and Daturus playing drums. This record really stands out from the rest of their catalog, which makes sense since it covers new ground, and it bursts with energy and emotional depth, making it one of their most inventive releases. It also covers a period of absolute tumult and chaos, restarting life on this volatile planet.

“Aristolochia” opens with the melodies flowing like fresh water, bustling as Mar’s clean singing emerges, an interesting and refreshing twist to the Botanist canon. The playing turns murky and gothy, roars bustling behind, the grisly turn fading into dust. “When Forests Turned to Coal” brings soaring singing, the drums rattling as foggy emissions turn catchy, throat buzzing rushing down your back. “Lost to the annals of history,” Mar calls, the pace blasting into the earth, bleeding away into oblivion. “Magnolia” basks in synth and a plodding bassline, strong singing and growls intertwining, a dream haze and harmonizing adding to the majesty. The fluid melodies thicken as the playing creates welts, the dulcimer strains ringing into time. “Archaeamphora” stirs as the singing rushes, a hypnotic and propulsive power pushing like a strong wind, layered singing making your thoughts come to life. The journey gets darker and rockier, the playing taking a turn toward progressive terrain. “The Impact That Built the Amazon” is chilling and eerie, the singing enriched with harmony, a lush, gentle pathway illuminating something so violent. “Mass destruction will create,” Mar calls as the dulcimer guides, and the playing mesmerizes.

“Sigillaria” stings with hearty singing, a breezy sunburst of playing making things feels like it’s ready to burst with life. The playing gushes and grows even more spirited, pulsing and pushing, finally ricocheting into the stars. “Strychnos Electri” chimes with dulcimer, the growling creating a bruising pressure, scarring as the atmosphere increases. Throat singing reverberates, the playing getting grittier, ripping through the leaves as the dew splashes and leaves the ground coated. “Wollemia Nobilis” is a short, bristling, alien-like piece that combusts, scary growls crawling down your back, the strangeness becoming a beast that’s growing too large to take down. “Dioon” is punchy and chugs hard, the growls lacing as the playing spirals, gutting with vicious energy. The chorus is rich with gothy colors, the pace picking up and spattering, clean calls pulling you back and chilling your flesh. Closer “Royal Protea” starts fluidly and forcefully, the singing hypnotizes, and the synth glazes. The playing is lush but also fires stinging impulses, the keys creating a thickening cloud.

It’s been millions of years since dinosaurs walked the earth, and the events documented on “Paleobotany” have been studied forever, continually fascinating people who have wanted to uncover what happened and how it impacted our world. Botanist long has been a project that relishes defending nature, but this is a new twist lyrically and a different approach musically that makes for one of the band’s most interesting records. Everything about this album feels fresh and exciting, and it adds yet another layer into Verdant Realm lore that opens up natural history to every era.

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/Verdant.Realm.Botanist/

To buy the album, go here: http://lnk.spkr.media/botanist-paleobotany

For more on the label, go here: https://en.prophecy.de/