A good deal has been written about this rather clandestine band from France, especially since their release of their brilliant 'Fas, Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternem.' So why do I feel I need to add to the many accolades that have already been bestowed upon this masterpiece? Ultimately it is for the sheer originality of this artistic creation that I wish to put my two cents in. But more than that, it is the fact that Deathspell Omega are pushing themselves both spiritualy and artistically, whereas most bands have resigned themselves to mimicing what's already been created. Everything has already been done so why bang your head against a wall trying to create something unique? Deathspell Omega have in their modest 'ouvre' disproven this notion in grand fashion. I have always believed that there are ulimited possibilities in the modes of sound creation, so why limit yourselves to a few exhausted chord progressions and a set of even more cliche rhythmical figures? Haven't we evolved beyond a 12 bar I, IV, V progression? It is fine to honour the past, but honour it as that, and do not be content with simply recreating a mediocre similitude. Art is a process of probing deeply into subconcious realms in to hope of revealing and conveying universal truths. If you are playing 'Black Sabbath' riffs all day long this will not happen. By the same token, an overly complex piece translates into a meaningless exercise or simple technical posturing. There is a trend of technical metal bands in which they try to play as many dissonant intervals in as many time signatures as humanly possible in one song. Who wants to listen to something that sounds like practicing? To get back to Deathspell they seemed to have acheived a balance of musical elements that seems to be lacking in todays musical landscape. The songs are so thoughtfully constructed, that it is hard not to harken back to the Baroque period in art and music. Yet there is a wonderful vulgarity, or let's say an unrefined quality to the work as well. Anyway, this is all my opinion and the internet seems already too full of opinions. I implore you simply to listen. Listen and pick up the gauntlet that Deathspell Omega has thrown down. It is our duty as artists to accept the challenge and get back on the path that they are walking. It is a sacred path that has been tread by the likes of (and I will use French composers here): Machaut, Josquin, Rameau, Berlioz, Alkan, Debussy, Ravel, Milhaud, Varese, Boulanger, Messiaen, Boulez and the great modern spectralist Grisey.
