The night sky here has been revealing more stars than I’m normally used to seeing the past few years. I doubt the layers of pollution have decreased, and it’s definitely not my eyesight improving, so it’s made me wonder why so much more of the universe has reached out for me. Whatever it is, taking the dog outside at night has been more cinematic.
Australian duo Mesarthim has been fascinated by what’s beyond over numerous releases (six full-lengths and several smaller releases) even since they surfaced nearly a decade ago. Taking on their music is like going for a journey into what humankind has yet to discover, and their latest release is a compilation of two of their singles into one package that is album length. “Anthropic Bias/Departure” pairs single tracks from 2022 and 2024 respectively that originate from the same source but come at it from different directions. The first track weighs the enormity of the universe and the tininess of humanity in scope and importance, while the second deals more with taking mental adventures through the stars to discover new things. Both tracks worked just fine on their own, but put together, they make a lot of sense as they have similar vibes and characters.
“Anthropic Bias” runs 17:22, opening in cosmic synth blips, and then everything tears open, keys warping and screams slashing. The fantasy spreads as the harsh cries decimate and torment, jostling through a storm into a spatter of blips and beats before guitars heat and explode. The synth continues to become a mental and physical force, blurring colors as the pressure builds, shrieks storming into a fog. A synth wall rebuilds itself as your brain turns into a strip of dreams, freezing and fading before disintegrating.
“Departure” is the 19:35-long other side, guitars lighting up and gushing, the keys dizzying and expanding the void. The emotion explodes as the howls maul, immersive guitars that spurt blood, the tempo halting slightly only to drain back in with trickling keys, a catchy, even dancey section changing your mental state. Beats ricochet as the screams bleeds, synth pulses, and sounds crash through clouds, the outer edges glistening. A space transmission chills as the synth softens, as does the atmosphere, fading into space.
Compiling these two Mesarthim tracks makes for a convenient way to have a copy of both singles that are separate pieces but complement each other nicely. “Anthropic Bias/Departure” is valuable not only because this band’s music is fascinating and devastating in the same breath, but also because it continues to increase their profile in the cosmic black metal corner. These nearly 40 minutes are the perfect escape past this chaotic planet, at least in your mind, as you can dream about worlds not yet sullied.
For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/mesarthim.official/
To buy the album, go here: https://www.sound-cave.com/
For more on the label, go here: https://avantgardemusic.com/
Meat Mead Metal 