Midnight Odyssey - Firmament. 90/100.

The more one listens to a genre, or sub-genre, the more we become accustomed to the inner and outer workings of it. We begin to understand its methods and why it practises what it preaches. There are, of course, always going to be sporadic surprises along the way on our adventures into the depths of the unknown, but we can safely assume, by way of generalising, what will or won’t happen during a musical experience. However, there are very few sub-genres, like ambient black metal, which evade the generalisations that are impolitely imposed upon them to no avail. The ambient sub-genre likes to shrug off any suggestions about its methods and is largely unmoved by the public perception on it. This callous sub-genre likes to spring traps on unsuspecting folk and toil with their emotions by deceiving them in terms of the portrayal it decides to take upon its opinionated self. This moody sub-genre is one which continues to surprise me, a self-proclaimed black metal veteran and is a difficult spectrum of the main genre to move around in. This sub-genre has the ability to act like a twister.

It starts off as a mild storm, but quickly transforms into a raging one, picking up the listener and throwing them around like a rag doll, without giving a second thought to the emotions of the plagued soul who is within its strong grasp, like a fragile animal caught between the jaws of death. Ambient black metal is the predator and we are the prey. It feasts upon our emotions, sucking them up into its vacuum and twisting them in a distorted and grotesque manner to suit its own portrayal. This area of black metal is a heightened version of the numerous others. Though it does what they all do, it tends to do it in a way that is exaggerated. I find it hard to become accustomed to its ways because it is, essentially, a shape shifter, squeezing itself into many different shapes and sizes, various forms and content that cannot be second guessed, even by the most analytical people. As I’ve become more in tune with black metal, on the whole, I have become more segregated away from sub-genres like ambient black metal because they continue to defy the perceptions and perform various illusions that make them hard to trace the roots of. Much the same can be said about this ambient black metal band, Midnight Odyssey, a one man Australian band performing a hybrid service between two similar sub-genres; ambient and atmospheric.

Try as I might, I seem to be unable to distinguish between the possible influences of this majestic venture into the darkness of the night skies. The ambient side seems to refer to the largely keyboard based symphonies that occur in and around the base of the material, which is strongly related to the iconic second wave bands like Burzum, most notably. However, though this might seem clichéd, Midnight Odyssey also seem to take influence from a rather newly established force within the depressive field - ColdWorld, a German band considered to be one of, if not the best depressive band in the history of the sub-genres short lifespan. Though ColdWorld could be considered to be influenced also by Burzum, I cannot shake off the feeling that Midnight Odyssey are directly inspired by the German one man outfit. Similarities seem to be both loosely established and based on a concrete belief that resonates not only in myself, but in others. I have read the opinions of others and, though it does not influence my own, we seem to share the belief that Midnight Odyssey sound similar to ColdWorld - which is no disparaging remake. Similarities range from akin textures, to the intermingling black metal epics with the ambient sideshows.

Songs like ‘A Host For Ghosts’ indicate to the listener that Dis Pater, the bands only member, is a man with a vision who creates his lush abstract ambient pieces based upon some of the most haunting and moving feelings known to man. The keyboards, in this instance, become the central figure to the beauty that ensues as he takes this journey on to a more astral, or cosmic level that was previously unheard of during the black metal madness that corrupted the airways beforehand. The idea behind these all instrumental songs seems to be a way of showcasing the pain that is felt throughout the songs in the lyrics, or so I assume. Although a number of ambient black metal bands intermingle fully ambient songs with those with vocals, a vast amount seem unable to distinguish how much one section needs to be imposed, and how much another needs to be relaxed. Far too often, ambient bands tend to overwhelm the listener with dire, slow moving ambient songs that evoke no real emotion from the audience and by doing this, they neglect the black metal side of the spectrum. Thankfully, Dis Pater has recognised my own specific needs by allowing more black metal elements to seep through to the listener, as opposed to overwhelming me with lacklustre ambient sections that give the band a directionless and passionless feel.

Dis Pater recognises the fundamental errors these bands make and takes it upon himself to avoid doing them himself. Thankfully, once again, he has gotten the mixture between ambient and fully fledged black metal correct with this accurate portrayal of the eerie nights, particularly portrayed well by the sparsely used clean chanted vocals, over the lush forestry that dominates parts of the globe where man exists no more. This stirring effort moves from ambient to black metal with grace and a professionalism that is lost on most unsigned bands. We, the listener, are always running the risk when dealing with unsigned acts because numerous bands are bedroom bands, or just lack the talent for being picked up by a record label. Of course, as Midnight Odyssey prove, there are a number of unsigned bands who deserve record label recognition and a global release of their records. Dis Pater’s professionalism in terms of his song writing, portrayal and subtle ambient references is deserving of plaudits and a place in the canon, which neglects outsiders like a small town community in the middle of nowhere does in cheesy horror movies. Another underground gem with a perfected production that ignites the majesty in the soundscapes and highlights all elements of this widely successful interpretation of the beast that roams the night plains.