Ars Manifestia
The Enchanting Dark's Arrival ()
Wydane przez BlackSeed ProductionsRok wydania Kraj ItalyNapisał Wouter5
This one-man black metal project sounds a lot like (early) Satyricon in general delivery, concept and atmosphere while (early) Marduk and Immortal occasionally shine through in the fast sections. Where Ars Manifestia lacks every bit of identity they compensate with that typical icy Scandinavian vibe that permeated the genre in the early '90s. The songwriting is fairly one-dimensional and the lack of additional instrumentation takes down the effect of the material present considerably. As this is a one-man project it is to be expected that the material suffers from a certain amount of variation. The production is fittingly bare bones but holds enough clarity, grittiness and overall roughness to ensure a proper listening experience. Artwork, design and lay-out are typical for the genre and don't stand out in one way or the other. Overall, the lay-out of "The Enchanting Dark's Arrival" reminds slightly of Satyricon's classic "The Shadowthrone" album in color scheme and composition. Certainly not the most original band around Ars Manifestia will appeal to fans of early '90s Scandinavian black metal – but holds no interest for those looking for some additional substance. Acceptable debut release but Ars Manifestia will have to search their own place in the genre if they want to grow beyond their current sub-underground status.
www.myspace.com/harmful666
