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| Cover art by M. Rekevics. |
At this point, I think it's only fair that we consider Michael Rekevics as his own subgenre of black metal (MRBM). He currently plays or has played in Yellow Eyes, Vanum, Vorde, Fell Voices, and possibly 36 or 37 other bands. I've been to two different festivals during which he played multiple sets with different bands. He's also the sole creator behind Vilkacis, who, after four long years, has produced a new album, Beyond the Mortal Gate.
Although it's been a while since Fever of War, the actual recording for Beyond the Mortal Gate started right after the completion of Fever. The new album feels like a conversation with an old friend that continues to flow even after long periods of absence. Both albums are muscular, impassioned black metal, marked by the unwavering intensity Mr. Rekevics brings to all his projects.
The delicate instrumental intro, "Snowfall by Torchlight," perfectly encapsulates its title with its sound. It feels like the sunrise I woke up to this morning, with an April snowstorm starting. After that, the album starts running and rarely slows down. "Defiance" burns with a drive that feels like Motörhead, which isn't surprising given that I've seen Rekevics play bass, and he wails away on it like Lemmy did. The melody line is simple but effective, and Rekevics's vocal roar still hits you in the face like a blast furnace.
When I used the word "running," to describe the start of the album, that was a deliberate choice. It really does feel like a race being run--either toward or away from something--although like any good album, it doesn't stick to just one feeling or pace. "Spiritual Retribution" slows down a bit and offers some unaccompanied, chiming tremolos, and if anything, "Boundless Spell of Realization" turns things further up in intensity, with Rekevics letting his voice rise to an almost unhinged feeling. The closer starts with a simple, martial-sounding drum beat with a slow guitar line like a clarion call.
Although this album continues the meat-and-potatoes black metal of its predecessor, there are some nice tweaks to the template. The production, in particular, is just a bit cleaner, with Rekevics's vocals pushed just a bit up in the mix. The primitive, raw feeling isn't gone, but the tweaks make for a better-sounding album overall, and the vocals in particular start to approximate the intensity you experience when seeing Rekevics perform life. I definitely recommend that experience--there's no doubting how serious Rekevics takes his music when you see him perform--but even if you don’t get the chance, this album is yet another welcome entry in the MRBM canon.