Year: 2023
Label: The Sinister Flame
Rating: 7,1 / 10
The venerable Germans BAXAXAXA continue to save the reputation of their extreme metal scene. On September 1, the second full-length album of BAXAXAXA with an incredibly original title "De Vermis Mysteriis" will be released on the ideological Finnish label The Sinister Flame. Considering that the band always aims to create an ancient evil in the form of primitive Black Metal, of course, the title is apt. But the problem (yes, I'll start with criticism right away) is that the new album, like the debut, is not too ancient in terms of sound. Again, everything is pretty clean and modern here, which spoils the impression and leads the band to the wrong territories. Two years ago I said it, and I repeat it again: BAXAXAXA should sound the way it sounded on recordings released before 2021!
My complaints about the sound imply not only the technical side of the recording. The compositions also move away from the impenetrable black labyrinths of SAMAEL, XANTOTOL and HELLHAMMER, trying to break out and flutter into the starry sky. They have a tendency to liquefy, focusing on the atmosphere instead of riffs. If everything was like "Above the Stellar Gateway" (by the way, an indicative name, given the above-mentioned changes), then I wouldn't say a thing. There is a perfect balance between hard and atmospheric riffs, and the keys, which behave very modestly throughout most of the album, suddenly begin to sing with might and main. But, unfortunately, this is a one-time deed, since the rest of the tracks are partly a set of long dreamy guitar parts, among which quotes from BATHORY and other forefathers come across every now and then. You won't find hits like "The Great Malicious Tongue" here.
The situation is positively influenced by the evil vocals of Patrick Kremer (head of Iron Bonehead Productions). His every word oozes burning venom. This gives the music a certain pertness. And yet it's not enough. Considering that BAXAXAXA is now quite actively playing live, I can't imagine how they think to present this material on stage. "Above the Stellar Gateway" and the title track (IA! IA! BAXAXAXAXA!) are only things that won't sound boring. The final thing "Necrolatry Libation" is also strong, but it is unlikely to work in a live environment.
Even with all my claims, "De Vermis Mysteriis" is by no means a bad album. Most of the distinctive features of BAXAXAXA are still in place. And yet the identity of the band now seems a little blurry to me. I hope this is just the temporary step aside.
English (UK) 
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