Following up on Mirrored Hate Painting I decided to checkout Astennu's debut under the same moniker. On Majestic Nothingness he is the lone musician handling all aspects of the music. Sadly the magic of his enigmatic lead guitar voice that lured me to this project is yet to blossom. It can be briefly heard in an infantile stage but what the record offers in tone is rather different given the lack of influence that his future band mates Dimmu Borgir would endow him with.
As a Symphonic Black Metal project from the other side of the globe, Carpe Tenebrum is a very competent record for the times. It sets out to achieve its vision of a darkly realm through song writing and the atypical shifts in momentum that draw charm from the emergence of complimenting synths. The aesthetic is a little dim and stiff with dainty distortion guitars and its reasonably disguised drum machine that pounds out blast beats without too much mechanical intrusion.
The most detracting element is Astennu's vocals. His scowling shouts and groans are laid bare leaving him thin, naked and without oomph or power. Essentially its an underwhelming presence, brittle and raspy. His texture doesn't packing enough punch for power or darkness. When stepping into the "clean" territory of burly singing its a little off note to be charming but nothing truly terrible. With more bass and some reverb this could of easily been a few shades better.
When its on, one adjusts to its aesthetics, capable yet lacking in vibrancy. The album goes through the motions, with all the tropes, shifts in pace, alternations of blast beats and half placings that I love. Its a typical record of the genre but doesn't leave an impression with any of its moments sticking. I don't think the record ever plays itself up with much bombast as the framework is generic and the guitars all to muzzled to dazzle. If I had found this in my youth however... I could of possible devoured it alive! Its just like that, I have heard everything on offer here before already.
Rating: 5/10