Elased
VdB 141 is the astronomical designation for the distinctive Ghost Nebula in the constellation Cepheus.IC 1805, on the other hand, refers to the Heart Nebula in the neighboring constellation Cassiopeia. These two codes form the title of the intro to this album and at the same time explain the enigmatic name of the band, Ghostheart Nebula. In its musical vision, the band merges the two nebulae into a mystical collision of almost impenetrable soundscapes. It may seem an ambitious undertaking, but the name and the idiosyncratic symbol could hardly be more fitting. No one has ever captured the essence of void, loneliness, hopelessness, farewell, and loss in such astronomical dimensions of darkness, weightless spacelessness, and disembodiment.
Blackshift is the third release from the Milan-based band, following its debut EP Reveries (2018) and the album Ascension (2021). Musically, it seamlessly continues the journey begun by its predecessors—literally. The intro picks up the atmosphere and melody of the final moments of Ascension and expands them into a complete and impressive work of Doom Metal, Death Metal, Post-Metal, and hints of drone doom, with a runtime just shy of an hour.
The walls of guitars are enormous, unmanageable, and downright overwhelming. They allow the listener to float amidst a monotony (positively speaking), evoking a trance-like state, lethargy, or a deep dive into the self. The drums drag the slow rhythm over long stretches but can also erupt into furious storms of double bass and blast beats. Admittedly, Ghostheart Nebula cannot deny a tendency toward gigantism. Yet this contrasts characteristically with the subtlety and playfulness of post-metal—if you ask me, the perfect setting for an astronomical concept! Infinite, monotonous emptiness meets an abundance of fine details. This contrast includes the simultaneity of divergent motifs. For example, it’s not uncommon for the bass to break away from the other instruments and lose itself in completely independent, voluptuous, almost dancing melodies. Occasionally, a piano intervenes, and strings emerge from the background as if from afar. The individual facets of the instrumentation overlap, appearing independent, almost contradictory, yet harmonious. As a result, the album possesses impressive melodic richness and complexity.
The vocals alternate between deep, haunting growls and distinctive croaking, harrowing screams. For the first time, in addition to male vocals, this album also features a female counterpart. Lucia Amelia Emmanueli, who made a guest appearance on the previous album, now enriches the band as a permanent member. Her delicate, fragile vocals blend beautifully with the music, highlighting its fine and filigree character. I recommend listening to the song “Infinite Mirror”, where astronomical slowness is elevated to the level of art. In a poignant interlude, the female vocals meet the acoustic guitar played by Borknagar’s Øystein Brun—pure goosebumps! In contrast, the subsequent title track, “Blackshift“, features furious drumming and an impressive interplay between piano and screaming vocals.
With this truly fantastic album, Ghostheart Nebula has surpassed its previous work. It almost feels, not just from the self-titled intro, as if the two previous albums were merely a prelude to the band’s complete works. Now, it feels like the true beginning! Time for a breakthrough! Hopefully, this band will finally rise from the underground with this new opus and fill the metal world with astronomical darkness.
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Label: Meuse Music Records
Release date: 17 October, 2024
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ghostheart.nebula
Country: Italy
Score: Elased dislikes scores, but still gave it a 4.0/5.0!
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