Diotima
For Krallice, playing together means much more than delivering the same riff at once. Diotima continually changes the relationships between guitars, bass and drums. Sometimes they move together; elsewhere, separate lines take their own paths. The result is technically demanding black metal with more coherence than its initial rush of notes might suggest.
The foundations remain fierce. Rapidly picked guitars, persistent drums and two contrasting harsh voices give the record weight. Nick McMaster's deeper delivery makes a clear difference beside Mick Barr's sharper outbursts. The bass also holds a substantial place in the sound, supporting the activity while adding movement of its own.
The title track provides a useful starting point. Its melodies take a recognisable shape while the rhythms and guitar parts continue shifting. Krallice complicates the music without entirely losing its emotional effect. Litany of Regrets chooses a more measured movement. The instruments maintain an uneasy tension that does not simply resolve in a neat fashion.
Telluric Rings connects broad harmonies with a harder acceleration towards its ending. Dust and Light then closes with a more spacious, melodic atmosphere interrupted by the harsh voice. That balance between collective movement and individual contributions makes the later stages especially convincing.
The length remains an obstacle. More than an hour of intensive interplay can become tiring, particularly before the smaller changes become clear. Not every piece reveals its direction immediately. However, technical skill serves a purpose beyond displaying itself here. Diotima uses that control to let pressure, melody and tension develop together. It is a difficult record, but its strongest passages give the effort a clear musical purpose.
