Ceremony of Silence – Hálios

Slovakian Metal might seem alien to you, just as it would to me if I hadn’t visited Slovakia. There isn’t much to say about the country—great food, impressive castles, but the customer service can be terrible. This deadly combination almost begs for the creation of interesting heavy music. So, you might wonder if I’m writing this review in advance to gain a competitive edge. Well, yes and no. Ceremony of Silence is my kind of band, and just a glimpse of the cover art of Hálios makes me salivate more than free food at a boring conference.

There’s nothing silent about Hálios. If anything, you’re about to be hit with more existential angst than when your crush told you “we’ll see” after you asked for a second date. This album is the stuff of night terrors, and it’s poised to give Ulcerate and Replicant a run for their money in the grotesque album of the year competition. Yet, Hálios isn’t just heavy and sickening; it has an aura of mystery that adds dread to every track. It’s ugly, but in a satisfying way. You just have to listen to “Primaeval Sacrifice” or “Moon Vessel” to understand that despite its jarring nature, Hálios never ceases to be interesting.

The depth of the atmosphere created by those resonating riffs, constantly pushing dissonances; the blast beats are unstoppable (thanks Ďurčík!), but with enough texture and variation in tune to avoid just beating your ears senseless. However, I believe that N. and Pilarčík’s vocals set the vibe Hálios is trying to achieve. They’re so restrained and almost blend in with the rest of the music sometimes. I appreciate it when the vocalist doesn’t demand the spotlight, allowing everyone else in the band their moment to shine. You see? Show some restraint and maybe they’ll call you back for a second date one day. But enough with all the black roses, what’s the rotten fish here?

Maybe it’s a minor detail, but could “Serpent Slayer“ sound any more like Ulcerate/Svartidauði? This is just an example of how in Blackened Death, there are few molds to choose from; they’re reliable (as in they’ll get back to you!), but it’s becoming increasingly harder to be original. Having said that, I think Ceremony of Silence is among the few bands that can borrow a lot from others and still have its own distinct and depraved approach to the old formula. Then there’s “Eternal Return,” an interlude track that, though interesting, is not as epic as the others. Maybe you still have some common sense (unlike me!) and need to breathe after an ocean of anxiety like this.

I was pleasantly surprised by Hálios. This time, you can judge a book by its cover. It’s not for the faint of heart, but if the day is grey and rainy, and you’re feeling lonely, overwhelmed by our cosmic doom, if you’re waiting for that text message that deep down you know will never come, then Ceremony of Silence has crafted something for your eternal wait.

Label: Willowtip Records

Release date: 19 July, 2024

Website: https://www.facebook.com/ceremonyofsilence

Country: Slovakia

Score: 4.0/5.0