AN NCS PREMIERE: IBEX ANGEL ORDER — “BELIAL INVOKED”

(written by Islander)

Contemplating new music from Ibex Angel Order is akin to contemplating the opening of a blast-furnace door to Hell, beyond which we will be blinded by enthroned Lucifer in his might and rage.

The last time we wrote about the music of this Dutch occult black metal band here (far too long ago) we described it as “cyclonic, dissonant, and berserk,” “a bewildering mix of toxicity and infernal majesty” that builds to “crescendos of catastrophe.”

That previous occasion was our premiere of a tremendous six-way split release named Ekstrophë in 2018. Ibex Angel Order returned the following year with a two-track EP, I.Ô. Creatôr / I.Ô. Destrôyer. Now, six years later, they’re returning again with their second full-length, II – Void Sermon.

The new album will be presented by Void Wanderer Productions on July 24th, and to help introduce it we’re premiering the album track “Belial Invoked.”

Void Sermon is again the work of the long-lasting union between K.M.K. (Invocations and Summonings) and L.D.S. (Ritual drums and emanations). Void Wanderer describes their new work as a forging of black metal from traditions old and new, “a whirlwind of razor-sharp riffs, unrelenting blasts, ear ripping vocals and a truly morbid and possessed atmosphere,” offered in praise for “the illumination of Lucifer and the all-encompassing duality of Abrasax.”

True to its name, “Belial Invoked” begins with an invocation, a sonic sorcery of reverently spoken words and mysterious ambient sounds that shimmer and chime, all of it reverberating as if bringing forward visions through a veil between dimensions.

The eerie and occult atmosphere thus created persists even when the band begin hammering and simultaneously unveil immersive riffing that sears and writhes, as if manifesting an infernal possession. The solemn, clean-sung chants are a continuing sigil of this ritual incantation straight through to the end, but we seem to hear what is being invoked too, through strangled and gnashing snarls, blasting beats, and a high, slithering melody that’s both menacing and mesmerizing.

Bright but disturbing convulsions occur within the engulfing sweep of the raw and contorting riffage, which steadily grows more and more fearsome and deranged, more exotic and more possessed, like the mad and worshipful spin of dervishes. Yet there’s something about the melody that also sounds tormented and fearful.

Lots of black metal bands throw around words like “ritual” and “incantation” to describe their songs, but “Belial Invoked” really does sound like a chilling and revelatory ceremony, one that’s otherworldly and hypnotic but also fierce and dangerous. Very hard to get this out of your head once you’ve heard it.

II – Void Sermon was recorded at Double Noise with G.Aa. It was mixed by L.D.S. with assistance from Magnus Devo Andersson/ T.T.), and it was mastered by Andersson at Endarker Studio in Sweden. The arresting cover art is the work of Cold Poison, and the logo was created by Ubertragic Art.

Void Wanderer will release the album on LP vinyl format and recommends it for fans of such bands as Dödsengel, Funeral Mist, Mare, and Cultes des Ghoules. It will be available digitally from the band and on all major streaming platforms.

PRE-ORDER VINYL:
https://voidwanderer.com/product/ibex-angel-order-ii-void-sermon-lp-pre-order/

IBEX ANGEL ORDER:
https://ibexangelorder.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ibexangelorder
https://www.instagram.com/ibexangelorder

VOID WANDERER PRODUCTIONS:
https://www.voidwanderer.com
https://voidwandererproductions.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/voidwandererprod
https://www.instagram.com/voidwandererproductions