ALBUM REVIEW
Spectre - A Procession of the Dead
Depressive spirit, distinct identity, pure darkness
I want to start by saying what I would normally say at the end: I haven’t come across a new album I’ve enjoyed this much in a long time. Catalan band Spectre, who define themselves as "Iberian True Black Metal", have returned after an eight-year hiatus with their second studio album, "A Procession of the Dead", and won me over from the very first listen. For someone like me who is not easily drawn in, experiencing this kind of connection was honestly both surprising and exciting. Before writing this review, I believe I listened to the album from start to finish at least five times, enjoying every single listen.
The album consists of ten mid-length tracks, two of which are instrumentals. From the intro of the opening track, you immediately get a sense of what you are about to encounter and the atmosphere that surrounds the record. This second album, where they have successfully created a dark, depressive yet equally powerful ambience, is, in my opinion, a sign that we will be hearing much more from Spectre in the future. As someone who is very selective when it comes to female vocals in black metal, Lilith’s vocals genuinely impressed me. If you have a prejudice against this aspect of the genre, or on the contrary, have a particular appreciation for it, you may have just found exactly the kind of band you have been looking for.
I found the album’s melodic structure highly consistent and cohesive. Although it is built upon a deeply depressive spirit, it truly succeeds in drawing you in and carrying you along through its chosen riffs and melodic framework. The guitar tones are also perfectly suited to the genre. In an underground scene filled with countless bands, having a sound of your own becomes the key to success. I felt this very strongly with Spectre, and this sense of identity played a major role in my appreciation of the album.
The album’s opening track, "Torax", perhaps because I am a physician, immediately caught my attention with its concept and became the starting point for my positive impressions of the record from the very first moments. However, the real blow came with the album’s third track and title song, "A Procession of the Dead". I liked the song so much that I listened to it countless times separately from the album itself. As those who know me are aware, this is something that happens very rarely for me. I strongly recommend paying attention to this track; once the album is released, it absolutely deserves a place on your playlists.
Aside from these two tracks, I should also mention that I was highly impressed by the eighth track, "Saducismus Triumphatus", as well as the closing song, "Goddesses of Vengeance". The album as a whole, and every song on it, falls firmly into the category of material that is absolutely worth listening to. In short, Spectre has become one of those bands that surprised me, that I genuinely enjoyed reviewing, that I would love to see live, and that I will definitely add to my favourites. Give it a listen!
EYLEM
https://spectrebm.bandcamp.com/