Something that I will always appreciate in the world of metal no matter how long I find myself in its trenches is the simple fact that one band can really come out of nowhere and surprise us, defy odds at every turn, and keep us guessing as to their next move. There are sporadic instances of that throughout the vast underground with talent of all different styles and creeds showing us just how much glory there still is to be had should bands just keep pushing those boundaries to make the discoveries and show us how it’s done. La Mer has only been releasing material for the last three years but the one-man act has been incredibly productive with this fifth full-length album far from anything I was expecting before diving in.

It’s not a real shock anymore to see a surprisingly productive black metal with there being a small but clearly driven section of the scene that doesn’t seem to sleep or rest with all of their time seemingly put into crafted new material for one reason or another. While the name of La Mer has mostly eluded my up to now, it’s with the arrival of “Tetrahedra” that I find myself somewhat upset that it has taken me this long to come upon the Scottish band. I can’t speak for the evolution of La Mer since 2020, but to look upon “Tetrahedra” is to witness an approach that isn’t afraid to transcend boundaries and bring forth an experience that we simply don’t see done enough to the wide spectrum that black metal boasts. Melodic, harrowing, gorgeous, macabre, and downright thrilling in all thirteen of its tracks, “Tetrahedra” utilizes intensity and beauty to create a truly intoxicating approach that leaves the listener rooted in place with the twist and turns of the record utterly magnificent to witness as La Mer shows complete and undeniable mastery of the sound at hand. Just as deadly with harsh growls as it is hauntingly beautiful with tremendous singing, “Tetrahedra” is nothing to underestimate! The riffs pair brilliantly with the evocative nature, the dynamic soul speaks volumes in every given minute, and La Mer doesn’t disappoint in any track. This is the fifth full-length album from La Mer, and we should have known about this act years ago!

This is the end-result of meticulous craftsmanship, passion, and undeniable knowledge of the many different moving pieces that are to be found that make the very sound of La Mer something to be admired just for all that it dares to be. The odds were defied at what seems like every given turn throughout the whole of “Tetrahedra” with La Mer’s magnificence hopefully on such a level that brings more glory to this band that seems to have gotten this down to a science years ago. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some catching up to do with La Mer.

LISTEN to “Tetrahedra” on Bandcamp here.

FOLLOW La Mer on Instagram here.