November 2, 2010

Reviewer: Chris

Canada’s Ov Hollowness impressed the hell out of me with its first demo earlier this year. The brand of ambient black metal is much like what you’d hear out of Sweden or Norway. As impressed as I was with the first demo I always approach any new offering with trepidation so as not to be disappointed. Clearly I am not disappointed. For such fine music to be made on this side of the globe is fascinating to me. We have a couple of bands here that engage the ambient black metal style to such perfection, one of which is Appalachian Winter from Pennsylvania here in the States. Mark R., the Ov Hollowness mastermind, manages to solidify his presence in the ‘local’ black metal milieu with Diminished.   

“Diminished to the Cold” is a cold, caustic shuffling through a myriad of emotional chasms that creates a somber pathway to a tree-lined forest. It has a very solid beat and rhythm that captures the essence of all things black. The close attention paid to such beautiful music is evident here as Mark assembles a pretty impressive sophomore effort well worthy of your time and thought processes. Whereas some of the riffs and melodies could get a bit repetitive, the foreboding sense of evil is truly ingrained in the songs. “Enshrouded in Obscurity” has a serious Krieg or Judas Iscariot influence abound and it’s my favorite track with its slow and dimly-lit flow. Mark’s clean vocals are also a welcome surprise and a fine addition to already cool tunes!

What Mark manages to create here is a very Opethian vocal melody over haunting blackened music that not only finds a cradle of unnatural bedfellows like suspense and ease but dispels any notion that he is a pretender to a coveted throne of superiority because he happens to live outside the realm of Scandinavia. Unlike most of his contemporaries, Mark offers honest music devoid of universal trickery like bombastic soundscapes or keyboard alienation posing as background. His integral approach to black metal is one that is easily liked and admired because, above all else, his music entrances and defies conventional pedestrianism. “Rest in Chaos” is so furiously epic that I played it three times back to back because I enjoyed it so much.

I hope to hear even more from Ov Hollowness in the future…keep up the black work, Mark! 

Release Date: August 3, 2010
Label: Band Self Released

TRACK LISTING

1.  Diminished to the Cold
2.  Silence
3.  Enshrouded in Obscurity
4.  Crestfallen
5.  Rest in Chaos
6.  Cursed to Die Again and Forever

Total playing time:  42:25

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Ov Hollowness - Diminished