While I have always been a fan of straight-forward black metal, there is nothing that can compare to when it’s met with a group that manages to twist the sound into something else that cannot be denied in any form whether it be something that’s comfortably close to that original form or wildly different. Both can be done to tremendous effect so long as the hands making the piece are capable and talented enough to bring it to life, and that’s never been a problem with the likes of Feral Light who has been on an impressive streak since their first album five years ago with the quality steadily growing. With their newest effort, that’s far from any different.

Without having to even think about it, this is far from what many of us would consider the fringes of all that black metal is capable of but it’s still throughout the very entirety of what’s brought forth for “Psychic Contortions” that manages to have sharp, distinct moments of challenging black metal that holds nothing back with the contrast utterly stark in its most brilliant moments. The very essence of this creation is so much of what has made modern black metal such an undeniable treat as it’s for their fourth full-length offering that this mysterious duo brings to us what can only be considered one of their most refined, primal, and successful albums to date with nothing but immense quality and energy to be found in every given moment of these seven tracks. Taking influences from the edges of ambient, doom, and especially crust to wrap around a supremely powerful core of black metal, it’s the very foundation of “Psychic Contortions” that could crack the very night and reveal to us equal amounts of wonders and horrors the likes of which were not meant for human eyes with our guides of Feral Light taking on their true form before such an event as their cathartic sound takes holds immediately to last all the way unto the final fading moments of the album.

A certifiable experience of cerebral black metal that is just as caustic as it is introspective, how can one look into what Feral Light has brought forth and not be moved by the viciousness of the performance in all of its raw, unforgiving purity? Works like “Psychic Contortions” are one of those rare events that come around maybe a few times in a year, but it’s every time that it happens in which we’re reminded just why the style is in the best state that it’s ever been and who exactly it is that we can rely on to deliver it in such magnificent capacity.

“Psychic Contortions” releases on April 22nd via I, Voidhanger Records!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “Psychic Contortions” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Feral Light on Facebook here.