Resplendent Grotesque

The second full-length album of Code “Resplendent Grotesque” is more progressive and experimental than their debut album. Of course, they wouldn’t write something boring or poorly performed in advance (with musicians from the bands Dødheimsgard or Ved Buens Ende). No wonder, that this album was nominated for Spellmannprisen (Norwegian Music Awards), the music lovers appreciated this release not only in metal community (and that doesn’t mean, that it’s mainstream, as well).

Album starts fast and expressively, and from the start, the listener is enchanted with the perfect contrast between clean and extreme singing of Kvohst. His growling is not too deep, but he sings emotionally with screaming passion. But his clear singing with high timbre is mournful, calm and pervasive at the same time, and not to mention its beauty and sonority. So there’s good balance between melancholy and brutality with culmination in melodic and painfully lyrical refrains (for example, in the songs “A Sutra of Wounds or “In the Privacy of your own Bones”). Still there are songs, which represent more aggressive and ruthless atmosphere (like “Jesus Fever” or “Possession is the Medicine”) with more black metal reference. There are some strange acoustic excerpts with quite psychedelic mood (like in “The Rattle of black Teeth”) to darken the painful atmosphere. The lyrics are full of sorrowful emotions and are bound to mystical themes (very different from those Kvohst writes in his own band Hexvessel).

Songs are not long, with classical structures, so there’s no crazy technical progressiveness on every corner, progressive elements are moderate and relevant, only to emphasize masterful songwriting and instrumental skills. Thanks to perfect mastering and clean sound the listener can entirely dive into this album, enjoying every instrument and vocal line (Mathew McNerney’s singing is well articulated). Guitar work is really important on “Resplendent Grotesque”, and though the riffs are not too intricate, they are heavy and intense with morbid violence. Clean vocals and psychedelic moments smooth this brutality, so for black metal genre the second Code’s album is not too harsh. Yes, it’s based on black metal, but differs from this genre, and after so many years (of black metal’s prime days) adds novelty and spirit of perpetual quest in experimental music field.

After the departure of musicians Viper and Kvohst, the band goes on with their own experiments, their music is now more progressive-based and with less extreme influence, but still it is interesting and perspective. But “Resplendent Grotesque” is their unique and true masterpiece, and no other albums can compete with it, it’s balanced, fragile and powerful. So the Code’s “Resplendent Grotesque” is one of the classical pieces of original progressive black metal genre.

The only black metal that is big in this time that plays nothing but straight black metal are the bands who did it when there was no other sub genres of the genre itself. The only black metal people seem to go out of there way for these days are the post rock influenced stuff southern lord and profound lore seem to sign daily, dont get me wrong I love some of it but is their really any need these days for the avante-garde genre that was huge in the late 90's in todays form?

Yes. Just Yes.

After a four year break, and an older album that has some tinges to perfection but not quite their yet, Code come back and hit the nail right in the head. Let me just say first of all that Kvost has one the best voices I have ever heard, his range is stunning and he makes the majority of this album very memorable. I cant help but feel people will turn a blind eye to it as the contrast of Morrisey singing with Dax Riggs over ferocious black metal may not be everyones cup, and call me deluded but as a massive follower of this genre it is a breathe of fresh air. Starting off with 'Smother The Crones' the band show their diversity within a full song, and its one of those things where if you dislike this- the album wont be for you, 'Rattle Of Black Teeth' is an avante garde masterpiece with tingles of 80's indie/rock in their and 'A Sultra Of Wounds' is a goosebump driven ghost ride.

The highlight ironically though for myself would be the most straight up song on the album entitled 'Possession Is The Medicine' this my readers is everything Satyricon have tried to do for years summed up in one song, its as Motherhead influenced as Bathory and has thrash riffing in there that even the biggest Venom hater couldnt help but headbang too, its a sheer piece of old-school perfection and is a must hear by any fan of metals standards.

So yes, its essential. its different, ticks all the boxes and is indeed the best release I have heard in 2009 and I will not hesitate to say I doubt anyone will beat it- Essential.

Code’s debut, 2005's Nouveau Gloaming was a mish mash of black metal, melancholic doom rock ala Katatonia and a concentrated effort to push the boundaries of black metal. That album doesn’t always work with most of the experimentation coming across as a bit forced and lacking a cohesive structure. Now, four years later, the band return with session drummer Adrian Erlandsson in tow and Resplendent Grotesque is an album that is superior to the debut in every way possible.

Right from album opener Smother the Crones, it’s obvious that the band has given a lot more thought to the songwriting on the album. The music starts off like Arcturus jamming with Prometheus era Emperor and the vocals of Khvost and Vicotnik really push this song to another level with excellent backing vocals from Vicotnik and clean Garm like vocals from Khvost. The music right through the album is full of vaguely black metal riffing but the band is completely unafraid to experiment with tempo and melody while always retaining the heaviness that this sort of music should have. In the Privacy of Their Own Bones is atmospheric black metal but the chorus sees Khvost coming across like a more powerful Jonas Renske with the band settling into a very catchy mid paced groove. The Rattle of Black Teeth is discordant but always melodic with a middle part that is total Pink Floyd worship. Possession is the Medicine is probably the most normal sounding black metal song on the album with a nod or two towards some thrash riffing. I Hold Your Light is some more Arcturus like avante-garde complete with swirling guitar lines and melancholic vocal melodies. The highlight though comes buried deep at the end of the album in the superb A Sutra of Wounds. What should sound like whiny teen angst is transformed through some classy songwriting into an engaging and uniquely catchy atmospheric extreme metal song.

The musicianship is top notch right through. Andy McIvor’s guitar playing is terrific and he’s totally at home playing gentle melancholic melodies, vaguely dissonant black metal riffs or even taking off on an odd lead now and then. The rhythm section of Vicotnik and Erlandsson is superb. Vicotnik’s bass lines especially, add a whole new dimension to the music. Khvost has this tendency to go slightly off in his clean sung parts, particularly on Jesus Fever but the vocals through much of this album are top class.

There really isn’t a bad song on Resplendent Grotesque. The music for the most part is sort of like Arcturus jamming with Katatonia with Ihsahn from Emperor lurking somewhere in the background and providing songwriting tips while Pink Floyd was playing constantly in the background. However, in spite of the influences or maybe because of them, Code doesn’t really sound like anything else out there. Resplendent Grotesque is an original piece of work filled to the brim with terrific songs and highly recommended for anybody with an interest in extreme metal.

Originally written for http://www.kvltsite.com