Black Metal has progressed quite a bit from where it started off, one would say. Even though a majority of bands have always been content with paying homage to the forefathers and adding their own little variations to the tried and tested formulae (absolutely nothing wrong with this of course), there have always been bands that constantly pushed the boundaries, thwarting black metal into artistically abstract terrain. Well, Darkspace pushes black metal into the farthest and murkiest realms of outer space. A turbulent ride indeed - one which plays host to chaotic crescendos, discomfortingly calm passages, relentless variation amidst repetition and ethereal sequences amongst other things. A turbulent ride yes, but I promise you, a truly otherworldly experience.

Since the onset of Darkspace, minimalism has been an oft used tool - from the album covers to the song titles. Those of you familiar with the previous releases know that this is reflected in their music as well. The same approach is applied to III. Concerning the music, when I say minimalist, I'm talking about the fact that there are particular motifs that each song revolves around. There is no particular structure or order that the songs rigidly follow - things are built around these motifs; and how.

The production on the album is stellar for the music it contains. There is a thick, almost guttural wall of sound which sits firmly at the bottom of every song, composed of guitar, bass and drums. Yes, the drums are mixed really low, merging it with the wall of sound giving rise to a distant, spacey feel to the songs - a previously absent trait. The vocals, provided by all members of the band, are heavily distorted and mixed really low, creating a very 'alien' sound. Where Darkspace have really raised their game is in the keyboards department. Their use of the instrument is accomplished and masterful. Tones reminded me of the sound on Paysage d'Hiver, the brother project. The keyboards drift in and out of the wall of sound, provide a disturbing backdrop, add to the spacey atmosphere and serve as the lead instrument, as and when is required. Though the ideas thrown in maybe minimalistic, the final experience one obtains from the album is far from a simple one. The outcome is a ticket to ride on an astral voyage. What we have here isn't regular black metal. Darkspace take elements of different types of black metal and throw their own charm over it. Blistering tremolo picking sections, droning near-ambient passages, sweeping keyboard interludes as well as some chugging black/death riffs are just some of the things you can expect to find on this album.

The guitar driven debut, I and the synth-laden, black/ambient sophomore release, II, were good, unique albums in their own right and gave Darkspace much deserved recognition in the black metal fraternity. With III, the Swiss trio has managed to reach a pinnacle of sorts. 80 minutes may seem long, but things never get boring or monotonous. Let me get to the point. This is a splendid album and as a black metal fan, you must have this. However, you do need to appreciate black metal to get into this album. I don't see many casual listeners of the genre digesting Darkspace's III, unless one is very big on space. (pun intended)



Label: Avantgarde Music
Year of Release: 2008