Recorded in July 2021 at The Crypt South, Psychic Contortions (I, Voidhanger) is the fourth studio album from Minnesota duo Feral Light, aka Andy Schoengrund (vocals, guitars, bass) and Andrew Reesen (drums), who have previously been involved with bands such as Wolvhammer and Empires and features seven tracks of obscure and experimental crust-infused black metal, with a distinct originality that sets them apart from the pack.

Opening with a sublime guitar riff on ‘Enveloped And Transformed’, the off-kilter and odd time-signatured music creatively sets the tone for what’s to come, instantly giving the feeling that this is going to be something unique and different for your ears to chew on. Before long Schoengrund drops his blackened vocal screams, in which there is an inherent darkness to his voice, sinister and somewhat in contrast to the music which is fluid and quirky, sounding not too dissimilar from something Kurt Ballou may have come up with for a slower Converge number. This track alone is all over the place in terms of arrangement and style, yet it all blends together unexpectedly well.

Second track ‘Ills Of Closure’ dives straight into a faster black metal style, with sweeping guitars and dominant vocals taking centre stage over a pulsating rhythm. Schoengrund’s impressive riffing breaks the music up in a fine instrumental section, again showcasing an expertly blended contrasting of styles.

Feral Light keep the variation flowing on ‘Self Disavow’, which builds into more of straight up traditional black metal flavour with intense rasping vocals, certainly not for the faint hearted, with the band continuing in similar fashion on ‘Attainment’.

The intro on ‘Wells Of Blackness’ exposes some further superb guitar work, which is a consistent thing throughout the record. ‘Communion And Reckoning’ continues full throttle while closer ‘From Frog’ provides the perfect final course to round the album off. An instrumental experiment in feedback, distortion and a haunting lead, slower paced and intoxicating for your mind, in a dreamlike ending of post-metal goodness.

From an instrumental viewpoint this is one of the most intriguing and engaging new listens I’ve come across this year. At points the vox may benefit from sitting a little deeper in the mix, but if piercing heavy vocals and a generally very dark and heavy experimental sound is your thing … then this is well worth checking out!

Buy the album here: https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/psychic-contortions

7 / 10

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