Obsidian Brilliance: Exploring Ebony Pendant’s Self-Titled Opus – A Top-tier American Black Metal Vinyl Experience in 2023!
Ebony Pendant Review:
The latest Ebony Pendant self titled release is the most impressive American black metal vinyl of 2023. Hailing from Seattle, Washington, the place that put Grunge on the map. Now hailed as one of the top acts in the black metal genre, Ebony Pendant swing laying waste to monumental structures with a barbaric display of brilliant and scathing USBM.
Ebony Pendant takes a page from the Norwegian black metal wave in the ‘90s. The raspy vocals which became a signature of Abbath in the earlier days of immortal. Ebony Pendant have perfected these demonic troll chants and the result is a darkened dream come true for black metal fanatics. On the song ‘Immortal Son of Darkness’ these vocals are especially at the forefront.
The lo-fi mix approach or under production is here in its archaic true form only adding more to the listening atmosphere, creating that gloomy and grimy vibe genre fans crave. Raspy vocals, check. Never-ending blast beats abound, check. Finally, there are riffs galore to accompany the aural madness and bring it all together.
The opener ‘Ichor Drenches My Athane’ is absolutely perfect in every form. It’s a bible in black metal 101 execution. The riffs, vocals, and never-ending pounding of the snare drum evokes pure satisfaction. Can you possibly get a more fitting song title? Ichor, meaning in Greek mythology being the fluid that flows through the veins of the gods — their life’s blood if you will and Athame being a ceremonial dagger.
We get some beautiful emotional instrumental passages in songs such as ‘A Castle in the Woods’ and ‘Spiritual Siphoning.’ We even get a short Dungeon synth style interlude on the instrumental ‘The Cave Temple.’ All throughout the tracks the listener is treated to memorable passages such as the moody jazz style percussion intro of ‘Whispers of a Nameless Fear.’ The last song, ‘Sentiment of a Time Long Forgotten’ is an epic black metal journey invoking some great emotions and an appropriate black metal “ballad” to close out the album. The whole release is filled to the brim with impressive tempo changes, acoustic passages, and enchanting melody.
The two members of the band simply known as S.C. handling all guitar duties, bass, keyboards, and vocals, with K.M. handling all forms of percussion. The album is engineered by S.C. in Seattle, Washington and mixed and mastered at Ossuary Studio in Brooklyn New York by Jean Paul Gatreaux.
This second full-length album from Ebony Pendant is their best work to date, after the EP ‘The Garden of Strangling Roots’ in 2021 and their first full length ‘Incantation of Eschatological Mysticism’ in 2020. The vinyl release itself is simply a work of art. I purchased the double black vinyl from NWN Productions. The release itself was originally put out by Asrar. It contains 2 LPs, a gatefold sleeve, a big booklet filled with artwork and lyrics, and a mini poster. There was an exceptional amount of love and artistry that went into its making, resulting in pure quality of the finished LP in your hands and one of the best of 2023.
Album Info:
Band: Ebony Pendant
Album: Self Titled
Members: S.C. (guitars, bass, keyboard, vocals), K.M. (percussion)
Engineered by: S.C.
Mixed and Mastered by: Ossuary Studio, Brooklyn, New York
Year: 2023
Country: USA
Runtime: 58min 40sec
Label: Asrar Label, NWN Productions
Track Listing:
01. Ichor Drenches My Athame
02. The Idyllic Gate Between Realms
03. Immortal Son of Damnation
04. A Castle in the Woods
05. The Impermanence of All
06. He, Who Casts Long Shadows
07. Whispers of a Nameless Fear
08. Spiritual Siphoning
09. A Flame, Imperishable
10. Raven Swarm
11. The Cave Temple
12. Sentiment for a Time Long Forgotten
