I’m certain I’d never survive an encounter with Colin Robinson, he being the energy vampire on “What We Do in the Shadows” who feeds off people’s energy by boring them into oblivion. As it is, I have limited amounts of power, and the more I do, the further activities I add to my to-do list, and it’s curtains for me. Colin would drain me in no time.

I thought of that scenario when considering what to say about “Enervate,” the latest long player from one-man drone doom instrumental power Celestyn. Helmed by Ted Bizon, also of black metal crushers Orphaned, this three-track album digs into what this creator does best, which is make your mind and body buzz with his slow-driving, psychologically altering creations that ground you. The title refers to a word that means to lessen someone’s vitality or strength, hence my Colin mention, though the music doesn’t really do that. I speak for me here, but it got into my blood and radiated my nerves, almost having an invigorating effect that injects energy and gets the juices flowing. Also, this is right up my alley, so the impact it has on me might not be universal to all listeners.   

“Damp” is the 16:11-long opener, starting with guitars melting, the pace moving slowly as drone emerges and noise scalds. Melodies continue to rise as the heat increases, guitars ramping up as the playing spills over the edges. An electric storm hovers as guitars tremble, the playing smothers, and everything vibrates to an end. “Respite From the Moil” drills and buzzes, your guts shaking inside your body, melodies emerging as the riffs numb nerve endings. Strangeness emanates from blinding colors that seem out of a technicolor dream state, clouds accumulating as drone laps, lava flowing from the corners. Closer “Purify the Door of Perception” runs 13:13, weather patterns hanging overhead, the cosmic void floating at your reach, electricity jetting through veins. The emotion floods to the surface as your bones rattle, high-pitched noises piercing, your ears going numb from the energy. Guitars bubble and char as you’re stretched to your limit, the sounds fading to oblivion.

“Enervate” is full of blinding energy and noise that gets inside your brain and rewires it for good measure. Celestyn’s Bizon certainly has been busy this year (five releases of varying size), and this is another great building block for his sound that washes over you and infects you with energy that feels like it came from another world. This is mood music for those with darkened minds who could use some noise and numbness to help dial back the manic feelings.

For more on the band, go here: https://celestyncelestyn.bandcamp.com/

To buy the album or for more on the label, go here: https://riffmerchant.bandcamp.com/