Recalcitrant Aesthetics

Liturgy have received much flack from the metal world - most specifically from black metal elitists. From a flat, surface-level perspective Liturgy are a disgrace to black metal; they don't adhere to the 25+ year old genre's sound or intent.  Or do they...

Things change. Black metal set out to be the antithesis of religion, culture, art, and what people considered good music. It was a rebellion that peaked in some very intense moments.  These types of movements are generally short-lived; they either fade out of the picture or are so successful in their method of defiance that they become part of the accepted greater picture of valid artistic expression. A parallel can be seen with the early punk scene, which today has a similar fan-base divide as black metal. Many look at punk as having become a mockery of itself: a mainstream, mass-culture genre that is exactly what it originally set out to defy. Black metal is the extreme and grim younger brother of punk. Black metal was a very powerful movement in music that has become a common-day commodity. It has become an accepted genre of music which pretty much negates its original point. Though some will claim it died, black metal is still around - but it doesn't mean the same thing.  It had risen from the ashes of burnt churches and bloody murders to find its home as the dark heart of the music world across the globe. Its raw, harsh, and abrasive sound has turned into label-name, big budget, professionally produced legitimacy. 

Liturgy embrace this truth, making black metal as spiritual art - defying the genre with which they are associated in a way that transcends many of its fundamental ideologies, yet embraces its rebellious nature. They're creating their own new wave of black metal; their sound is coarse, unconventional, and unforgiving...even and especially to the ears of the black metal elitist. In this sense they have revived the aspects of black metal that had fallen to time and success, but also have let go of its preconceptions and paradigmatic negative close-mindedness.  Liturgy have transcended its hatred and grim nature by affirmation.

The Thrill Jockey double-sleeved, double clear vinyl pressing.

Hunter Hunt-Hendrix's demos laid a foundation that Renihilation then built upon and refined. 2011's Aesthethica sees Liturgy approaching a mastery of their sound, writing and performing as a single breathing entity. Amidst the scraping trem-picked high-register minor and major chord structures - a swirling flurry of remorseless guitar power - thunders a rolling "burst beat" rhythm section. Utilizing Deutsch-like auditory illusions, Shepard Scale effect, and shifting polyrhythms that circle back onto themselves, Aesthethica is progressive and also psychedelic.  The patterns and rhythms elevate you; ever-augmenting droning phrases cycle and climb - eliciting a growing tension of energy until they break, pouring out in a tidal wave of majestic riffing played with sacred intent.  It's intense...and when the intensity of a song subsides there is an enriching silence - a stillness of being.

The screechy, animal screams are a perfect match for the music Liturgy creates.  These are not guttural death vocals - they are shrill and unsettling.  They are not supposed to sound good...this is black metal...black metal in 2011 at that. It ought sound grating even to fans of extreme music. Potentially as bothersome to metal fans are the various moments of Aesthethica when meditative and repetitive layered chanting enter the mix- a fitting contrast to the power and vehemence of Hunt-Hendrix's wails.

What makes Liturgy black metal is not something as simple as image, production quality, or musical key.  They defy all of these things by remaining in alignment with their art and still, even more rightly so, deserve their self-devised genre of Transcendental Black Metal.  Liturgy revive many of the original elements of black metal, but in a new fresh breath. They have brought black metal full circle, now not only defying the original movement and current interpretation, but also those who refuse to move forward...and in an accidental way. They aren't concerned with being "tr00" or "kvlt" - they are expressing a very unique vision with their music. Liturgy have spirit and are uncompromisingly defiant by being so dedicated to serving their creation.

Aesthethica is a profound record and I hope you will check them out if you have not already; it's one of the best metal records of 2011.