FOR THOSE ABOOT TO ROCK: Riffs of Canada with Thantifaxath (Toronto, Ontario)

By: Mark Tremblay

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 24/11/2017

Label: Dark Descent Records

“Void Masquerading as Matter” reaches far beyond the realm of black metal, and into a sound truly of its own. For anyone looking for black metal moving in a progressive direction, this record is a must.

“Void Masquerading as Matter” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Oceans of Screaming Spheres

2). Self Devouring – Womb

3). Cursed Numbers

4). Void Masquerading as Matter

The Review:

Toronto’s secretive black metal super group re-emerge with a 35 minute dissent into dizzying madness. Thantifaxath’s new record, “Void Masquerading as Matter”, takes the foundation of black metal, and pushes it into the furthest reaches of the genre. For those looking for innovation in the black metal genre, look no further than this record.  Taking off right where “Sacred White Noise” left off, Thantifaxath come barrelling out of the gate with blast beats and tremolo picking on “Oceans of Screaming Spheres”.  After a minute and half, however, is where Thantifaxath come into form. Most of the songs start out as a form of black metal, and then morph into another form of experimental dark music. Whether it’s the use of piano on “Oceans of Screaming Spheres”, static noise and strings on “Self Devouring - Womb”, or chamber vocals on “Void Masquerading as Matter”, there is always an element of Thantifaxath pushing the envelope forward.

The music has what is best described as a “slippery” quality to it. With constant ascending and descending pitch and scales, nothing feels stationary on this record. This gives the music a living and organic quality rarely found on today’s robotically precise production methods. “Cursed Numbers” is the best example of this. This song contains the most un-black metal feature possible; a guitar-tapping sequence. This sequence is fluid, and yet never finds the down beat of one. The melody of the song creates an illusion that it is constantly ascending without ever having to come down. “Void Masquerading as Matter” reaches far beyond the realm of black metal, and into a sound truly of its own. For anyone looking for black metal moving in a progressive direction, this record is a must.

“Void Masquerading as Matter”is available  here

Band info: bandcamp