Rating: 8.3

Country: Spain

Release Date: 2007

Record Label: Oniric Records

Track list:
1. Terribles Disciplinas 06:05
2. El Tormento de C�sar el Ahorcado 05:22
3. Black Metal II 07:17
4. Abominable Desolaci�n 03:47
5. Apocalipsis 08:07
6. Grandiosas Ordenes 03:07
7. La Muerte Podrida 06:00
8. Obito & Duelo 05:09

Total playing time 44:54

Band Website: Cryfemal

Cryfemal - Apoteosis Occulta

Ebola: All instruments and vocals

When I first put this album on, my immediate reaction upon hearing the mid-range power chords with a tremolo lead line on top trudging along to the typical Fenriz-style punk beat, I thought to myself, “oh it's one of those”. But then the riff sped up and on its tail end was a truly wicked  melody line that made me think that perhaps Cryfemal is more than 'one of those' bands. When four minutes into the first track the song had already changed direction about five times without skipping a beat I was positively impressed.

Cryfemal is actually a rather long running band from Spain. Although the band is apparently known as a depressive black metal band, on his latest album the expected despondency is overshadowed somewhat by a healthy hatred and contempt for mankind, reminiscent of the early Norwegian scene. However, the traces of despondency from earlier albums is still a noticeable element, creating a sound that hearkens to certain bands from France and Denmark. Listening to the punching, droning third track "Black Metal II" for example one can detect a definite similarity with Sortsind (also because of the broken, insanely wailing vocals) and the despairing and slightly demented melodicism reminds one of the principle works of Mütiilation.

As intimated by my opening paragraph Apoteosis Occulta can change gears at the drop of a hat. There are no ten minute drone fests here folks. From moodily droning rhythm guitars, to Northern style tremolo, Thornsian broken, discordant chords and even at one time a soaring Katatonia-esque lead guitar section, sole musician Ebola has a wide musical palette and knows how to apply it, while still remaining traditional. This is perhaps one of the reasons why I wouldn't typify Cryfemal as a depressive band; with its driving dynamism it sounds much too active and engaged to be associated with the passive moping of the typically depressive black metal band. While it certainly is melancholic and grim as fuck, what with all the descending melody lines and often claustrophobically tight note-clusters, it is so in a largely pro-active sense; indeed in the manner in which black metal is supposed to operate.

Apoteosis Occulta gets two thumbs up from me. It is one of those exceedingly rare albums that can be typified as melancholic while still maintaining the actively misanthropic stance of traditional black metal. And while it can easily be placed in certain black metal traditions (Norwegian, Danish and French) this does not hamper this album's originality in the way it is actually executed. In short, it succeeds on all important fronts and any fan of the early second wave and its more despondent members from the three mentioned countries would do well to seek this out.

June 6th, 2008