At what point does a band become much more than a mere act playing instruments for the enjoyment of others? When does it become more? For many bands out there, metal is a form of discovery and enlightenment be it of a dark nature or holy source. Plenty of bands go the extra mile and attempt to incorporate themes such as discovery and enlightenment into their work to tremendous effect. Eigenlicht is a prime example of such, and their upcoming debut is all but immaculate in the oddest, satisfying way.

When it comes down to black metal, it’s not exactly a great feat to do something apart from the rest of the scene as that’s a lot of what the scene does in its current state, and that’s a reason why I love it so much. There’s a seemingly infinite number of bands that elucidate a path in the darkness through their sound to great results, but not nearly enough bands try to delve into the human mind itself and pry out dark secrets that we seldom acknowledge. It’s bands like Eigenlicht that go right into that territory of the brain head-first with their incredibly dynamic and entrancing heap of black metal the likes of which are on full, brilliant display with their upcoming full-length of “Self-Annihilating Consciousness”. With this mammoth record, Eigenlicht really knows how to challenge the listener to not only engage with a sophisticated kind of black metal but also one that will pry open your skull itself to witness the inner machinations of your mind in full effect as their music can range from a full onslaught of the senses to a very hypnotic drone that knows how to hook your mind into a lull before ripping it all asunder once more to peer inside. It’s with the dark magic behind “Self-Annihilating Consciousness” that Eigenlicht doesn’t only show that they’re a clear cut above plenty of other black metal acts, but they’ve got the subtext, talent, execution, intricacies, and pure wonder to pull it off with stunning potency, and it’s the kind of shit I could lap up every single day.

Eigenlicht has long been a name to keep an eye out for in the underground, and the act is finally moving their pieces to show us what they hinted with on their initial EP. Those of us that have waited have been rewarded undoubtedly, and any newcomers will find themselves confronted with a massive record that’s equal parts mentally challenging as much as oddly entrancing in the form of “Self-Annihilating Consciousness”.

“Self-Annihilating Consciousness” releases on February 16 via I, Voidhanger Records!

LISTEN to advanced tracks from “Self-Annihilating Consciousness” on Bandcamp here.