DE MAGIA VETERUM — The Deification (review)

DE MAGIA VETERUM — The Deification album cover

Album · 2012 · Black Metal

4.5/5 · 2013-08-23
bartosso

Eradication of Self

I hereby announce that Maurice "Mories" de Jong is a warped god of madness, instilling awe and terror alike in all those who dare venture into his realm. And let's get one thing straight, it doesn't get more intense than this. Trust me, I've heard my fair share of crazy stuff. If anything compares, it can only be Merzbow or another Mories' project like Gnaw Their Tongues, Cloak of Altering or Aderlating. There is, however, something utterly fascinating about this abyssal poetry, and despite its painfully cathartic impact on my psyche, I keep listening.

The fourth album by De Magia Veterum is another experimental black metal journey through the realm of unfathomable darkness. Ear-splitting production underlies discordant glissandi and sonic outbursts of soul-stirring madness, but wait, there's more! With sinister sampling and breakneck rhythm patterns, Mories intensifies this, already extreme, experience. The Deification is in many ways a blend of Migdal Bavel and The Divine Antithesis. It's dense and soulful as the former and dissonantly chaotic as the latter. And there's also what's always been setting Mories apart from other fairly similar artists like Deathspell Omega and Blut aus Nord. I'm not trying to belittle their status in any way, but unlike De Magia Veterum, you can still follow their reasoning. Here, it all sounds as if it already existed as some boiling plasma within the creator's subconscious, and he simply converted it into sounds no man could normally conceive. Despite being consistent and meaningful, the notion of structured chaos doesn't really apply here. Structured chaos is liable to deconstruction and analysis. The Deification is rather a poetic depiction of chaos as it really is.

In many ways, this is a masterpiece and an unbearable sonic assault at the same time. Let's just say it's a great addition to your metal collection as it may expand your horizons to the extent you would never imagine possible. Remember though, no matter what kind of extreme music style you're a fan of, De Magia Veterum may be just too much for you, or something you will love with a bizarre, ravaging affection.

more than 2 years ago
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UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Yeah mad genius he definitely is...

bartosso wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Dude, you made my day! (or night, whatever!) These words, coming from one of the most experienced metal reviewers, are a major ego boost (bartosso the Proud, here I am ^^). Thank you. And yes, the album is great, not necessarily better than the other 2 I've heard, all are very good after all. I have no idea how Mories does that, releasing 3 or so albums a year with 3 different projects is just beyond my comprehension. Freaking genius.

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Damn that´s a great review...I didn´t know this album existed (it seems Mories puts out one or two releases every time I look away), but I´m definitely intrigued to hear it now.