Aversio Humanitatis - Behold the Silent Dwellers (2020)

Unleashing waves of oppressive Black Metal, today we have Spain’s Aversio Humanitatis and their sophomore release “Behold the Silent Dwellers”. Featuring over 35 minutes of crushing music, this release is both atmospheric and punishing, with a similar take on the genre as bands like Weapon, Necros Christos and Arkhon Infaustus. If you like your BM to be firm, atmospheric and yet demoralizing, this is a release to acquire.

Opening with waves of brutal riffs and mysterious deep growls/snarls, “The Weaver of Tendons” sets a very powerful and mystery shrouded mood. The band’s no-frills musical core allows them to craft intricate and incisive songs like “The Presence in the Mist” and “The Sculptor of Thoughts”, filled with piercing guitar work, a pulsating bass guitar line, and crafty drumming, keeping listeners engaged with a thick and immersive atmosphere.

The best song in this release has to be the mystical “The Wanderer of Abstract Paths” and its crafty Post-Metal atmosphere perfectly flanked by A.M. harsh vocals and the slight focus on more melodic and introspective passages like the eerie last few minutes. Expertly manipulating time and space, songs like “The Watcher in the Walls” deliver unique tempo changes, engaging instrumental passages, all while keeping a very sinister and pummeling guitar-drive atmosphere.

Closing with the doomier “The Scribe of Dust”, the band showcases a more melodramatic side filled tempo changes from punishing BM to more melodic/doom tempered onslaughts. This last track continues to show the versatility of Aversio Humanitatis sound, and their knack for always delivering innovative songs and sounds. If you are into Black Metal that is both highly atmospheric, while still tending more into the Post-Metal/Sludge territories, then “Behold the Silent Dwellers” is one album you cannot miss.

Label: Debemur Morti Productions

Release: June 19th, 2020

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Spain