Ixone
It’s high time I leave aside any sort of thought that indicates that I know what I’m doing and just admit that this album left me scratching my head quite a lot. Having bothered to look into the background of Grimovetust before diving into Gates To Heptagon Tower I was certain that I was in for a scratchy, raw record with the most amount of grit possible. That being said, one can only imagine my surprise when the first thing I heard was a rather triumphant synth intro, soon followed by a reverb enhanced, fairly melodic piece of music, closer in sound to First Spell rather than A Blaze in the Northern Sky. At that point I was certain that I was about to have several grapes with this record, but something seemed hellbent on telling me otherwise…
It’s important to state that there’s not much known about this project in general. The mastermind behind it has made it his mission to remain anonymous, although there have been speculations about him and the ways he’s been involved in the scene in the past, if that is the case. Nevertheless, Gates To Heptagon Tower is a clear nod to early second wave records, particularly those defined by more moody, atmospheric approaches, such as the previously mentioned First Spell by Gehenna. Now without further ado, back to the music!
The songs are on the longer side, most of them passing the seven-minute mark, and include a wide variety of acoustic and atmospheric moments and interludes. The production quality is raw, yes, but the reverb and effects soften most of the sharper edges, resulting in a rather accessible listen, at least by black metal standards. The vocals also stand out right of the bat, moving between muffled, sinister whispers to menacing growls tinged with echo. It’s definitely more standard ghost than banshee, so to say. What gets me is that generally I am not a fan of this style, as I have a clear preference for sharp, in your face vocal performances, and I have been very critical of whispery, muffled vocals, and still am. But somehow, by the grace of Satan at this point, Grimovetust somehow makes it work. Not only that, but it also adds to the album in such a way that everything feels harmonious. Holy hell, I am definitely impressed. “Bond by Frost and Infernal Might” is one of the songs that exemplifies this best, and the one I would recommend for those who want to have a taste of the band’s music before actually going and listening to the record.
Moving on, it wouldn’t do justice to the album if I didn’t delve a little more in depth about the guitar work, with all its intricacies included. Obviously, you are presented with several instances of high quality riffing that oftentimes carries a traditional heavy metal flair. If that wasn’t charming enough for you, I should also mentioned that, given that the songs are on the long side, one gets to experience a wide range of techniques and styles, with one song including about three main riffs, along with several complementary ones. That being said, the rabbit hole goes even further. The album basks in great use of interludes, many of which are acoustic based. Oftentimes the mood of these interludes is quite melancholic and meditative, sensations created by the gentle, repetitive patterns.
Despite being a clearly solid record, Gates to Heptagon Tower is still fairly rough around the edges. At times the compositions might feel fractured, due to the high number of things happening in each song, and if you’re not a fan of moody interludes I would highly advise you to skip this one entirely. At the same time, although I am impressed by the vocals, I still need a while to embrace that particular style entirely. All of these however leave room for improvement on future releases. Overall Grimovetust has offered the public another obscure gem to dwell on. Although a hard pill to swallow for some, it is nowhere near as bitter as it seems.
Label: Dusktone
Release date: 25 July 2025
Website: https://www.facebook.com/grimovetust
Country: No clue!
Score: 4.5/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 