Vertumnus Caesar

Step into the cavernous, shadowed realm of Malokarpatan, where the air is heavy with the scent of damp earth and ancient, crumbling stone. Their latest offering, 'Vertumnus Caesar', is an exercise in atmospheric architecture—a grand, sprawling edifice of black metal that prioritises mood and scale over the immediate, visceral punch of classic heavy metal. From the opening notes of 'Na okraji priepaste otevíra sa hviezdny zámek', the band establishes a sprawling, gothic vista. It is a kingdom of shadow, but one that occasionally feels more like a painting than a live, breathing conquest.

Musically, Malokarpatan leans heavily into the theatrical. The production is cavernous, providing a vast stage for the sprawling arrangements. However, for the listener yearning for the galloping momentum of old-school heavy metal or the searing, surgical precision of the genre's most aggressive heights, 'Vertumnus Caesar' might feel a touch lethargic. It is a slow-burning incense rather than a strike of lightning. The melodies are draped in a thick layer of melancholy, wandering through 'Koár postupuje temnomodrými dálavami na juhozápad' with a sense of weary, majestic navigation.

While the atmosphere is undeniably thick with mystical dread, the lack of sharp, hook-driven peaks keeps it from reaching true heights.

The title track, 'Vertumnus Caesar', serves as the album's centerpiece. It is an imposing piece of work, attempting to evoke a sense of imperial decay. While the arrangements are intricate and the atmosphere is palpable, it suffers from a lack of dynamic spikes. It smoulders and glows, but it rarely erupts. In the theatre of black metal, some fans crave the explosive, high-contrast shifts that keep the blood pumping; here, the transition from shadow to shadow is so seamless it can occasionally border on the hypnotic, losing the edge of urgency.

Moving into 'Vovnútri chlácholivého útoita kunstkamru', we find a deeper exploration of the band's penchant for gloom. The instrumentation is competent, and the atmosphere is undeniably thick, yet it is during these stretches that the 'classic' elements—those soaring, memorable hooks that stay in the head long after the final note—become elusive. There are glimpses of melody, but they are often buried beneath the weight of the production and the deliberate, plodding pace of the compositions.

'Panstvo salamandrov jest v kavernách zeme' provides a subterranean shift, feeling more rooted in the subterranean mysticism of the genre. It is a solid piece of metal, but 'solid' is a quiet word for a band with such theatrical ambitions. I wanted to hear more of the fire, more of the frantic energy that defines the most memorable moments of the genre's golden age. Instead, we are given a stately, measured procession toward the final track, 'I hle, tak zachádza imperiálna hviezda'.

Ultimately, 'Vertumnus Caesar' is an album of immense ambition and competent craftsmanship. It paints a vivid picture, creating a cohesive world of mystery and occult grandeur. Yet, for a listener who demands the galloping energy and the 'zing' of a truly standout hook, it feels somewhat restrained. It is a noble, beautifully decorated castle, but perhaps the gates are a little too heavy to swing wide, and the interior is a bit too quiet for those seeking a full-blooded assault on the senses.

Malokarpatan has delivered a high-quality, atmospheric journey that will satisfy those who prefer their black metal steeped in tradition and mood. However, the lack of some dynamic, piercing highlights prevents it from achieving true masterpiece status. It is a journey through a misty, moonlit forest; haunting, yes, but perhaps a bit too long and wandering to keep the adrenaline spiking from start to finish. A respectable effort that sits comfortably in the middle of the pack of its contemporaries.