There is something to be definitely said about the bands that inhabit the vast realm of atmospheric black metal and actually come out of creating a new work that stands out greatly amongst the crowd in all respects. It could be simply by doing something even slightly different or something wildly out of the left field. It just has to be potent enough to come across and stand out amongst the crowd, but, obviously, it’s got to work more than anything. Unreqvited is absolutely an act that has long understood, and even though I’ve only listened to only one of their acclaimed works over the years, it’s with this forthcoming effort that they continue to impress without hesitation.

It has only been the last “Mosaic” work that Unreqvited has put out, but that doesn’t mean I think any less of the band because “Mosaic I” truly does speak for itself, and the recognition that the band has acquired over multiple albums is not without good reason. When it comes to this new effort, I can’t help but feel the trend that Unreqvited has become known for will only continue its grandiose run as “Mosaic II: la déteste et la détresse” only further proves to us the excellence behind this act. Mixing together amazingly gorgeous atmospheric black metal with some electronic effects that, while not always great in some moments, adds a new layer the likes of which we’ve seen before from this band and elsewhere, but there’s something that Unreqvited brings with it that elevates the combination to a new level. It makes “Mosaic II” have a completely different feel than the rest of the competition, and it’s by the end of the first track alone that it becomes clear that Unreqvited is nowhere near calling a quit or going to slow down in the amazing quality. The whole of this record is truly captivating in such a way that I could not possibly think of any better start for atmospheric black metal in a new year as well as an entirely new decade. While this is far from something that I’d consider ground-breaking in any sense, there’s no denying here whatsoever that what’s on display here is nothing short of what could be considered stellar from beginning to end, and if it doesn’t gain the recognition like its many predecessors then it will be a true crime upon the name that is Unreqvited.

Should you know your shit in the current state of the underground, Unreqvited is a name that you should well and respect just as much simply because of their wide recognition and undeniable talent, and it goes without saying that its talent applies just as much here with this album as any other that they’ve put out. “Mosaic II: la déteste et la détresse” stands on its own proudly without any sign of wavering or hesitation, and it only gets better with every spin.

“Mosaic II: la déteste et la détresse” releases on January 10th!

LISTEN to advanced tracks from “Mosaic II: la déteste et la détresse” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Unreqvited on Facebook here.