ALBUM OF THE WEEK: AQUILUS: BELLUM I

Australian Multi-Instrumentalist Aquilus AKA Mr Horace Rosenqvist returns with the first of a two-part opus entitled Bellum-I via Blood Music Records. The 62-minute eight-track release is heavily influenced by dark, atmospheric metal, European folk and classical music.

It is rare to feature such a record on the Rambling Man's pages, but this album has an overall sense of something epic emerging here. The musician hails from Melbourne, Australia and features several musicians on this album. 'Bellum- I' opts to feature some traditional instruments such as acoustic guitars. piano, violins, mandolas, balalaika, mandolins, banjos, gusli, bow psaltery, and fipple flutes.

Aquilas first came to prominence ten years ago with his debut album, 'Griseus'. which was preceded by a series of demos released in the 2000s. 'Bellum-I 'brings together eight tracks of melodious symphonies, harrowing vocals and an ethereal adventure all to your stereos.

The sombre tinkles of the piano-laden "The Night Winds of Avila" sets the scene for what feels like a gothic horror movie. "Into Wooded Hollows" sums up that previous assessment with a riveting six minutes of a macabre journey through deathly growls, tender pianos and bone-chilling string arrangements that would please horror novelist  Clive Barker.

Bellum-I seems a statement of intent from the one-man band to bring something unique to the mainstream. Each track feels like a soundtrack to some epic waiting to be discovered in the cold arms of winter.

The 13-minute " Eternal Unrest" is the longest on the album. This feels like an interlude with each augmentation of dissonant chords growing in sound. The song feels like it is broken into four parts with some nice melodic piano leads followed by death growls and jagged symphonies sounding like a battle between good and evil.

"The Silent Passing" is anything but with a more heavy metal edge.  The resonant cries of loud and catatonic vocals regurgitate over menacing guitar riffs. The album closes with two nine-minute tracks "Lucifer's Gate" and "Empyreal Nightsky" which sound like they could be two cinematic masterpieces that offer a series of emotions. Aquilus encaptures sadness, pain and brevity through a remarkable choice of instrumentation and symphonies.

Overall, 'Bellum-I' may very well alter your perceptions of classical music and dark metal because Aquilus has created a sound that makes them both work.

Words by Anselm Anderson

 

Tracklist:

The Night Winds of Avila

Into Wooded Hollows

Eternal Unrest

Moon Isabelline

The Silent Passing

Embered Waters

Lucille’s Gate

Empyreal Nightsky

Social Media;

https://aquilus.bandcamp.com/music

https://www.facebook.com/AquilusMusic

'INTO WOODED HOLLOWS'

'LUCILLE'S GATE'