Occultation – Three & Seven Review

Three & Seven is the debut release from enigmatic New York entity Occultation, and a fantastic example of the forward-thinking retro-tinged metal that has seen a surge of renewed interest in recent months. Placing a strong emphasis on crafting a palpably thick witching environment than other releases in the same eclectic category, the band skillfully crafts a black cathedral of sound that drips with Sabbath and Mercyful Fate flare. With near every track on the album, Occultation manages to capture perfectly that distinctive sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach upon realizing you’ve stumbled upon something you shouldn’t have – and the subsequently sudden dizzying flash of panic that stems from being unable to find a way out. A grotesque and withered hand greets you from beyond the void, bearing a cryptic invitation into a rich sonic catacomb of horror. You are beckoned.

The most strikingly apparent aesthetic choices present on Three & Seven is the viscous layer of reverb these songs sport like a cloak, lending a very dark and dreamlike atmosphere that tends to blurr a lot of the edges between the individual instruments in the mix. While initially a little off-putting, the ‘cabalistic ceremony in a wine cellar’ effect has grown on me substantially with repeated playthroughs. The whirring atypical song structure found throughout the album sits as a stark contrast against the mesmerizing circular waltz of Nameless Void’s (of Negative Plane) fretboard. The viscous bass gives a dismal oomph to each incantation while the guitar continues to evolve throughout. Occultation have nailed the art of switching things up to keep it fresh, and the pace on this album shifts so often that the funeral procession doesn’t ever get bogged down in one spot.

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The songs found here slither between the somber and frantic, the resounding reverberation and bells often sanding smooth the edges between individual tracks and providing a cohesiveness to each of Three & Seven’swhispy black tendrils. Mysterious musicians A.L. and V.B. provide the jaunt’s haunting siren song of a vocal combo. Sinister spiraling guitarwork condenses into this great serpentine fog of creepy atmospheria, pierced by drum lines that drive the songs forward through their deceptively simple dynamics. The robe-clad column is intermittently interspersed by bouts of shining guitar virtuosity, and at times breaks free of the morgue semblance long enough to tear into faster paced sections that have an almost evil surf or death rock vibe about them. Imagine the B52’s trying to tame malevolent spirits inside of a candlelit dry well at midnight. Or don’t. The ensemble is occasionally graced by an unnerving, antiquarian organ whose macabre thrums energize an already eerie environment for your earholes.

This is an outstandingly strong release from the Profound Lore/Invictus Productions camp and an exceptional debut album from one of the coolest new bands 2012 has brought to bear thus far. If acts like Ghost or Black Math Horseman get your black blood flowing, you owe yourself a wine filled sit down with Occultation’s brand of progressively nostalgic bewitchment. Three & Seven drops April 17th, and you can check out the track “Living Portrait” in the upper right-hand player here.