Personal darkness is a thing that can be all encompassing, something that takes a lot of energy from your everyday life. I can’t stress enough, but therapy is not a sign of weakness. Fuck people who say that. Anyway, coming to terms with demons or struggles or whatever ails you takes time, and taking that time is pretty crucial to how you feel.
One-man black metal force Sparks of Celestial Fire, helmed solely by Atanor, sure seems to be taking an accounting of whatever torments inside on debut demo “And Everything Seems to Die Again.” Released last year and being reissued on cassette by Fiadh Productions, this collection is devastating, smashing the senses with raw power and scuffed-up tension, and it’s clear from the attack that there is a lot of personal, thorny issues under the surface that need to break out so light can flow again.
“Waiting for the Light to Return” opens in spiraling black metal, fiery melodies with harsh cries that bruises flesh. The playing gushes and rattles bones, speed becomes a bigger factor, and then guitars divebomb into the earth. “In the Shade of Trees” is raucous and flooding, racing with fluid guitar work, fast melodies, and a flooding energy level. The aura gets stormy and gray, guitars firing and menacing, crashing harder and electrifying. “Faraway Lands” is a reflective instrumental piece, tracking patterns over dark echoes and fading into time. “Og Alt Synes Å Dø Igjen” (translates to “and everything seems to die again,” hence the demo title) has guitars blazing, a punk-fueled dash wrestling you into the dirt, metallic stabs opening up wounds. The intensity continues to ramp up, howls decimating, a glorious, electrifying jolt melding into a tornadic attack that spits cinders. Closer “Waiting for the Light to Return – The Despair” rampages, rumbling over the ground and shaking the earth, howls slashing as the playing gets more comfortable. “I’m alone, and no one’s coming after me, I’m lost,” Atanor howls, the playing spiraling dangerously, riffs dashing as the final blasts scorch the earth.
“And Everything Seems to Die Again” getting fresh treatment is justice well served as Sparks of Celestial Fire deserve to ravage more ears. There is a tidal wave of emotion and torment in these raw, stormy tracks, making it feel like a battle in your own mind that you’re trying to keep at bay. This is ideal for late-night sojourns with your emotions laid bare, coming to terms with the new part of your struggle.
For more on the band, go here: https://sparksofcelestialfire.bandcamp.com/
To buy the album, go here: https://sparksofcelestialfire.bandcamp.com/album/and-everything-seems-to-die-again
For more on the label, go here: https://fiadh.bandcamp.com/
Meat Mead Metal 