Arcana Coelestia - Le Mirage de l'Idéal

December 1, 2009

Reviewer: Matt

Arcana Coelestia is one of the most interesting projects playing doom metal today.  Spearheaded by MZ of psychotic black/doom metal project Urna and excellent black metal band Locus Mortis, Arcana Coelestia is a fascinating combination of mid-career Anathema (Eternity through Judgment), contemporary death doom a la Ahab and Shape of Despair, and anthemic post-rock.  Packaged in an atmosphere invoking alchemy and black magic, this Italian group has concocted a mystical masterpiece, a clear standout in an otherwise stagnant genre.

Arcana Coelestia debuted in early 2007 with Ubi Secreta Colunt.  At a brief thirty three minutes and marred by a poor production, Ubi Secreta Colunt was an unfortunately incomplete introduction to the band’s unique take on doom metal and only scratched the surface of their alchemical obsession.  Armed with a glorious production and a longer running time, Le Mirage de l'Idéal is a full realization of Arcana Coelestia unique concept and execution.

Opening track “Duskfall” sets the stage and introduces their approach, which remains consistent throughout the album.  Crushing riffs buried underneath layers of spiraling guitar melodies and ebbing keyboard effects, “Duskfall” immerses the listener darkness and magic.  Thick growls alternating with soaring clean vocals supplement the impermeably dense composition.  Formal song structures are incidental to the composition; songs develop along paths of waxing and waning emotiveness, as riff patterns and melodies are frequently obscured by the trance-inducing maelstrom.  This isn’t music made for analysis, interpretation, or even merely jamming.  This is music to hear in the dark, by candlelight, through headphones, lost in an opiate haze or traveling to Vhoorl on an astral projection. 

Le Mirage de l'Idéal is a mammoth release in the doom genre and a considerable accomplishment for this young act.  One of the few bands to effectively harness an occult, dreamlike atmosphere, Arcana Coelestia have poised themselves to blaze a new path of creativity genre-wide.  Absolutely recommended for fans of dark, mystical music, and essential for doom metal fans.

Release Date: April 4th, 2009
Label: ATMF Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Duskfall
2.  Requiem (For the Fathomless
      Void of Redemption)
3.  Le Mirage de l'Idéal
4.  Tragedy & Delirium I -
     The Tragedy
5.  Tragedy & Delirium II -
     The Delirium
6.  ...thus Fade in Nocturnal Deluge

Total playing time: 48:12

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