Aquilus – Bellum II

You might be wondering why I’m writing a review for Aquilus‘s newest release, Bellum II, at this late stage. It’s not typical behavior for the catto. But you see, forming an opinion about Bellum II isn’t as straightforward as just listening to it once. There are layers to this mammoth of an album. My real question was whether it could even hold a candle to Griseus, the subgenre standard. Let’s find out!

Bellum II is poetry, and I mean that in both a positive and negative way. It possesses delicate details, an intense atmosphere, and emotional depth, but it’s also bloated, somewhat pretentious, and hard to decipher. It demands something from you. So, get off the couch, stop mindlessly scrolling, and put some effort into your art consumption for once in your life! It’s a challenging listen, not suitable for those who only seek brainless bashing (there are other moments for that, relax!). But if you pursue perfection, you’ll be rewarded with its beauty. In a wacky comparison, Aquilus crafts experiences rather similar to Villeneuve’s films. They’re slow experiences that build tension frame by frame, and their power lies in the details.

It’s rare to find a Metal act that understands how to use string instruments in all their forms. Sure, Aquilus isn’t the most technical band at all, but they have an understanding of musical composition that most metal bands can only dream of. Okay, but in terms that the masses can understand: it sounds really pretty and really ugly when it wants to. You, the battle jacket metalhead, will most certainly find it boring. And you, the snobbish elitist, can claim that people don’t get this work of art and feel superior before going back to being yelled at by your boss.

I already seem to be describing Bellum II as a polarizing album for years to come. However, I believe that its most complicated aspect is that it has too much “atmosphere”, to the extent that it starts to feel like a Tarkovsky film here and there. Its structure gives us a lot of lingering and little strength. The album consists of two tracks, and then the rest could be described as the most contemplative interludes Metal will see this year. You have to be patient; I know it’s hard, but delaying gratification is a sign of growing up, so try to be an adult for once!

If you enjoy pretending to be a classical music connoisseur or just want to delve into a side of Black Metal that you don’t encounter every day, then Bellum II is for you. Time will tell if I like it more than Griseus, but for now, it’s definitely making its way onto my end-of-the-year list. With Bellum II, you’ll have a soundtrack to sink into your own self-imposed intellectual loneliness.

 

Label: Northern Silence Productions

Release date: 5 May, 2024

Website: https://aquilus.bandcamp.com/music

Country: Australia

Score: 4.0/5.0