ALBUM REVIEW: Ετερόφωτος – Spectral Lore

Based in Athens, SPECTRAL LORE is the autonomous project of Ayloss, who maintains his country’s inimitable reputation in producing both black metal and philosophy. Since 2005 the project has operated at the intersection of atmospheric and progressive music, and Ayloss has earned a reputation as a consistent and prolific practitioner within extreme metal’s cerebral fringe. SPECTRAL LORE represents an impressive body of work, which can be truly intimidating for the uninitiated.

Ayloss identifies two thematic series within SPECTRAL LORE’s full-length releases. I, II and III are said to be musically and lyrically contiguous, exploring the liminal space between terrestrial nature and the cosmos. Sentinel, which evoked transcendence through martial discipline, was considered to be anomalous. However, nine years hence, Ετερόφωτος is presented as the next in Sentinel’s series. Ετερόφωτος, approximating to ‘the one whose light comes from others’, “can be seen as a comment on its predecessor’s youthful enthusiasm,” observes I, Voidhanger, “a kind of re-alignment that does not point towards a peaceful settlement, but on the strengthening of the need for rebellious, promethean praxis.”

From the very first bar, it’s clear that the seething tenacity of youth is the order of the day on Ετερόφωτος. This is frenetic and vigorous music; worlds apart from the lofty and pensive atmosphere of the seminal III. Unsurprisingly, there are similarities to be drawn from Ayloss’ parallel project MYSTRAS, which debuted with Castles Conquered And Reclaimed last year – a certain Aeolian mood, maybe – but SPECTRAL LORE is, among many things, characterised by unrelenting complexity. Ετερόφωτος is a demanding listen. There is no repetition which you can grasp at to ground yourself as a listener. Ayloss guides you through winding and meandering melodies, whose momentary beauty are all the more precious for their transience.

While navigating Ετερόφωτος might be a feat of cognitive endurance, there are ample rewards along the journey. The album’s centrepiece, Sorcerer Above The Clouds, reveals Ayloss’ compositional talent at its most inspired, and the conclusion of the ensuing Apocalypse is a masterpiece of intensity and obfuscation. Totalling some eighty minutes, Ετερόφωτος is a long album by anyone’s reckoning, but it is almost completely undiluted. With the exception of twenty minute outro Terean, there are no indulgent ambient passages to challenge your charity or patience as an audience. SPECTRAL LORE produces complete bodies of work, and no one could walk away from Ετερόφωτος feeling unsatisfied.

Ετερόφωτος feels like a new beginning rather than a continuation. When set against Sentinel, its thematic antecedent, Ετερόφωτος demonstrates Ayloss’ maturity as both musician and producer. What he had formerly achieved through instinct and sheer exuberance has been reimagined with deliberation and skill. With Ετερόφωτος,  SPECTRAL LORE continues to rank among the most challenging and immersive projects in extreme metal; rejecting accessibility in favour of hard-won moments of sublime awe.

Rating: 8/10

Ετερόφωτος is out now via I, Voidhanger Records.

Like SPECTRAL LORE on Facebook.