Leviathan – True Traitor, True Whore

In Europe, it is not usual to listen US Black Metal bands. This is justified, perhaps because of the Scandinavian and German Black Metal scene. Well, if someone has searched Black Metal music, generally, he couldn’t unnotice that in the States exist bands who also play equally Black Metal music. Judas Iscariot, Xasthur, Absu and Krieg are some of the most important bands of the whole Black Metal scene. Leviathan couldn’t be an exception and it’s a recognized band from many of the Black Metal fans.

Leviathan, aka Wrest is an one-man project from San Francisco and after many years of legal struggles with record companies, Wrest is releasing his fifth full-length album. The remarkable thing is that for a one-man band, Leviathan produced such good Black Metal with dark atmosphere and many Ambient influences in the band’s music. In “True Traitor, True Whore” Wrest is playing still the chaotic Black Metal of the past demos and albums, but the Ambient atmosphere is more suggestive than ever. Wrest seems too influenced by the Ambient explorers, Deathspell Omega. The talented musician tries a music experiment and the result is a genius and massive album full of dark and unrealistic music,too.

The whole album is a hymn to misogyny and along with the dark music, the album has a grim and infernal expression. More specifically, from the first song, “True Whorror” the listener has the chance to evaluate the good quality of Leviathan’s music. Although it reminds somehow of early Burzum, there are many Leviathan’s characteristics. The chaotic void begins from here and the listener’s mind explores its sinister sides. The Ambient points do very good job at that. It has also dynamic drums, the guitar riffs are boosted to the chaotic and many times confusing feeling and the bass sculpts the sound. The genius compositions are continued to the rest of the album, and that’s why they are turning it into a masterpiece. The experimental manifest carries on with “Her Circle Is the Noose”. Incredible vocals, melodic riffs and smashing drums. The result is a cold atmosphere and misanthropic thoughts.

Before you realize what just happened, the heavy guitars of “Brought Up to the Bottom” begin. The guitar scrape, the smashing drums, the curving bass and the brutal growls along with the unregulated melodies make this track one of the best songs of the album, in my opinion. The same form follows and on the next track “Contrary Pulse”, but here the feeling is more depressive. The “sick” sentiment continues with “Shed This Skin” and “Every Orifice Yawning Her Price”. These songs can easily be named as the best tracks of “True Traitor, True Whore”. Also, these tracks prove that USBM isn’t inferior to the European scene. The exploration to unseen places doesn’t stop here. “Harlot Rises” is next and here I have to congratulate Wrest for the music compositions. It’s the most mature and solid track in Leviathan’s career, by far. Incredible guitar riffs and extraordinary Ambient sounds, generally the whole song touches the perfection. The album finishes with “Blood Red and True”. The Celtic Frost influences are clear by the slow riffs and the hateful growls. A perfect way to close a perfect album.

Even if the music is confusing, every song leaves a spot to the listener. Wrest transmits his feeling through the music and he does it ingeniously well . The US Black Metal scene must be proud of these albums. An average person may call this album an abortion, but many Black Metal fans may call “True Traitor, True Whore” a piece of art. Leviathan ,despite the difficulties, is still alive. Wrest has nothing to envy from the European scene. This album is a masterpiece and not for “normal” ears.