I find myself in a bit of a predicament here. I’ve always found myself on the side of quality rather than quantity purely because it tends to be that when a band is constantly pushing out new material the very quality of their music suffers greatly the longer such a constant trend of releases continues. That’s a rule that is damn near universal as something that everyone can get behind, but there is always an exception that manages to come around after some time to really show us what it’s like to see such a rule not apply whatsoever. Bands like Itnuveth, Chasmdweller, Veilburner are vicious in their assaults upon the underground with there being understandable gaps in the release schedule for whatever reason, but that makes sense because it’s hard to remain so productive all the time and not sacrifice quality at the same time. To be aware of the modern state of the underground, though, is to be aware of Esoctrilihum in some form or another with the band’s reputation only growing with each year, and it’s assaults upon us are only becoming more frequent.

Since the second album in 2018, I figured that this band was going to be a constant presence in my reviewing habits from one year to the next, but it has just gotten out of hand! Not only has the French act that’s solely helmed by the madman that is Asthâghul been able to dish out a new full-length every year without fail, it has been since the pandemic that we’re seeing multiple releases a year in terms of EPs, singles, and even more full-lengths off of I, Voidhanger Records. Hell, we already saw Esoctrilihum start the year off on a strong note with its nine full-lenght album, “Funeral”, that was followed by a standalone single not two months later. It’s gotten to the point that Esoctrilihum has become a point of slight controversy in certain circles of the black metal community where some feel like Esoctrilihum is of the same like of Trhä where the quality has definitely suffered at the price of quantity while others, such as myself, are left bewildered by such a consistent powerhouse that is continuously fleshing out his own Lovecraftian world that we are hopeless to penetrate in any significant form.

I like to think that there are two potential answers here: (1) the pandemic helped improve Asthâghul’s already impressive rate of crafting such that he has had more than enough to release for years now, or (2) he’s just that crazy at what he does. Either one doesn’t matter to me, and it shouldn’t matter to anyone once they lay their eyes upon this forthcoming beast from beyond the veil of stars. Whereas it feels like each album has shown us a step in the evolution of Esoctrilihum, it is here with this utterly monolithic triple album effort that we see such an otherworldly beast come forth that I can only liken it to Midnight Odyssey’s “Shards of Silver Fade” both when it comes to the pure span of the creation as well as its scope of mastery.

Across each of these fourteen tracks, we’re given what is likely the most refined and focused that we’ve seen Esoctrilihum even considering the virtual masterstrokes that were “Eternity of Shaog” and “Dy’th Requiem For the Serpent Telepath” with the synth-driven black-death metal that’s laced with cosmic grandeur whose magnificent splendor is practically maddening to conceptualize for all of its details and nuances that find their way into every inch of the cosmos that Esoctrilihum has cultivated over the years. In the grand maze that is “Astraal Constellations of the Majickal Zodiac”, there are three acts that make up the three albums at play here. “In the Mystic Trance of Tâmonh Ѳx, The Cosmic Bull God” where we see the more psychedelic tendencies of the act where the synths take us through a tremendously layered experience that bleeds seamlessly into the second act of “In The Presence Of AlŭBḁḁl, The 5-Eyed Star Beast” in which we see things take a dark turn as this is really where the brutal assaults of Esoctrilihum take the center stage where we see the very forces bound through the fabric of this universe in an all-out war that no one is sure to emerge alive from, least of all the star-born creatures themselves. Finally, between two tracks that result in a two-part 42-minute closer to this immense saga, “In The Mouth Of Zi-Dynh-Gtir, The Serpen-Time Eater” brings every aspect together in a monolithic crash of light and gravity that’s laced with some of the boldest of Esoctrilihum’s flavors with inclusions of progressive and doom setting these two pieces even further apart from all that came before it as the very worlds of Esoctrilihum’s cosmos come smashing together in a zodiacal cataclysm where the only victor is Death as it stretches its grasp even further into the starlit reaches that are slowly fading bit by bit. That’s not even taking into consideration the interstellar war that takes place throughout the whole of the album with as much psychic warfare as there are serpentine conspiracies that only teleport the listener deeper into a world beyond worlds that normal sapiens cannot ever hope to fathom without losing their very minds.

With all that has been summoned forth to make the whole collection that is “Astraal Constellations of the Majickal Zodiac” come to life in such spectacular form with any given track from these fourteen more than enough to catch the attention of many, it truly makes one wonder just what exactly is Esoctrilihum not bold enough to attempt? Any one of these three creations could stand more than firmly on their own with individual releases over the course of years more capable of adding to Esoctrilihum’s repertoire in magnificent fashion as there are more than enough instances of mind-breaking psychedelia, voracious expanses of black-death prowess that are the very definition of cavernous as well as unrelenting, and the exact breed of macabre majesty in supreme chaos that Esoctrilihum has become all but known for over the years.

While it may be debatable from one person to the next as to what the “best” creation from Esoctrilihum is after these many productive years, but if nothing else I think we can all agree on this: “Astraal Constellations of the Majickal Zodiac” stands as the most grandiose, massive, and bewildering creation from the French act in practically every aspect. It brings together everything that has ever been considered essential to the very DNA of Esoctrilihum such that any sliver of this beast must be given its due credit for all that it dares to be with the absolute entirety of this monolithic saga that is more than worthy of being considered as what may be Esoctrilihum’s end-all be-all magnum opus. No matter what Esoctrilihum may bring to life in the months and years to come, the shadow cast by this record will encompass everything that is to come after without exception.

This is what it means to be beholden to your very craft. This is what it means to transmute your music into another form altogether. This is what it means to make a certifiable masterwork. This is Esoctrilihum! May ye tremble before its might!

“Astraal Constellations of the Majickal Zodiac” releases on May 12th via I, Voidhanger Records!

LISTEN to advanced tracks from “Astraal Constellations of the Majickal Zodiac” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Esoctrilihum on Facebook here.