ALBUM REVIEW: Ex Cathedra – Creature
As musicians continue to push themselves creatively to stand out from the pack we have been treated to some crazy and wonderful creations. IGORRR is a shining example of how just one mind can construct an unstoppable force of experimentation. Hoping to garner such praise is Raphaël Fournier who is solely responsible for the avant-garde CREATURE project. His latest instalment entitled Ex Cathedra is available now via I, Voidhanger Records and is sure to attract a lot of interest.
Fugue en Sol Mineur dives straight in with an eccentric variety of techniques and stylings. From intense black metal riffing to brass instrumentation with a baroque twist for good measure it sure keeps you guessing and wondering where on earth this album is going to take you next. “zÑ5♦mı follows a similar remorseless approach by skipping any pleasantries and launching right into wild complexity. Abrasive growls accompany the unravelling chaos. L’Odyssée Hyperpropulsée possesses a more brooding, tension building atmosphere in the initial stages before resuming the bombardment. From blast beats and frantic guitar work to prominent orchestral elements there really is no stone left unturned.
Involution – Expectations offers a much appreciated moment of calm and clarity with some soothing piano segments before beginning to dial up the frenzy once more. Steady hammering riffs provide a solid backbone to supplement the flurries of madness. Horns triumphantly blare over the arrangement to add a sprinkling of opulence to the demonic undertones. Note Anticosmique is equally as mind bending as its predecessors but seems to allow the instrumentation more room to breathe rather than all battling for prominence at the same time which certainly works in its favour. Whilst jarring and unsettling it almost feels toothless without the shrill vocal onslaught to provide that added sharpness.
Neo Habilis has zero intention of putting the brakes on the carnage as an array of evil riffs march onward ushered by the wild drum patterns and added horn pieces. Le Roi Zogue feels like it could be the beckoning call of a horror movie with its suspenseful prose and dramatic structuring. La Brièveté de l’Aphélie decides its time to charge things up for another assault with swift guitar work and a heightened tempo. The melodic layered vocal work is particularly effective.
After already thrashing the listener to within an each of their lives up to this point it maybe wasn’t the best decision to conclude Ex Cathedra with two tracks composing 21 minutes of run time. Atlantis and Ethernellement respectively feel like they are nonchalantly coasting through the motions and sadly do not provide the same thrilling rollercoaster ride which brought us to this stage. Weariness begins to set in and minutes seem to drift by with not a great deal of fascination to be found. There is however the complete curve ball that is a strange rapping segment which conjures more bemusement than intrigue.
Ex Cathedra shows a great amount of promise and will undoubtedly require a few listens to fully digest the maniacal textures embedded within but the arrangements begin to grow tiresome and lack the accessibility for you to fully engage with the tracks. If the kitchen sink wasn’t thrown at you from square one and a staggered approach with the instrumentation was adopted it may have allowed more opportunities to appreciate their presence. The skill and the determination to push boundaries is certainly there but the execution leaves a little to be desired.
Rating: 7/10
Ex Cathedra is out now via I, Voidhanger Records.
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