VALAC - Howls Of Infinite Horror (12" LP on Black Vinyl)
United States | Raw Black
Detailed Description
VALAC once again channels the abyss with Howls of Infinite Horror, a relentless maelstrom of raw black metal that seethes with malevolent energy. This latest opus refines the project's signature sound, pushing deeper into sinister realms while maintaining an aura of ominous grandeur. The production, though unyieldingly raw, strikes a balance that allows the intricate layering of melodies and dissonance to surface, forging an atmosphere both suffocating and enthralling.
From the eerie invocation of “Act I” to the climactic descent of “Act II,” Howls of Infinite Horror unfurls like an incantation of pure dread. Tracks such as “Shadow of the Blood Moon” and “Levitating on the Plane of Existence” weave tremolo-picked intensity with spectral melodies, punctuated by blast-beaten ferocity and haunting clean passages. The weight of despair lingers in the gloom-drenched “Dead Savior Complex,” while “Confined to the Chains of Trauma” unleashes a savage barrage of riffs that feel both unshackled and methodical in their devastation. Vocals, like echoes from the void, pierce through the storm with a spectral malignancy, further reinforcing the album’s oppressive aura.
Lyrically enigmatic yet thematically infernal, VALAC continues to dwell in the shadows of misery, illness, and death, while subtle nods to mythology and anti-religious fervor add an esoteric depth to the work. As the final notes dissolve into the darkness, Howls of Infinite Horror leaves an indelible mark—an embodiment of black metal’s unrelenting spirit and an affirmation of VALAC’s growing legacy in the genre.
