Eye of Nix : "Moros"

Had a feeling there would be a few more albums to take into consideration before I started making my end of the year list. It opens like a more post-version of Dead Can Dance. Lead singer Joy Von Spain lets it all out when goes into a more operatic soprano as things get blasty beneath her. Male growls come in as they shift to a crustier pace. While Mykur gave us similar dynamics earlier this year, each end of the dynamic range here is pushed a little further. "We Perish" begins to answer the question of what do they have to offer once the initial shock of the first song begins to wear off and the only formula evident so far is the use of the loud to soft build which is done here in an almost Neurosis like manner. When Joy feels like it she proves she can let go of some of the pure tone and control and go into more of a punk place.If you hear the word noise thrown around in relation to these kids don't let it scare you as they throw some abrasive samples in from time to time, but otherwise focus on the music.

The guitar assumes more of an indie rock jangle on " Veil" while Joy croons around it in an angular fashion. There are some stompy moments that reminds me of early Kylesa when they were rougher around the edges. This is what you might have wanted Jarboe's collaboration with Neurosis to sound like. They hit a nice slow-core like drift in the middle of "Veil".  The Swans influence is really prominent on the bright but burgeoning beat to "Turn to Ash". Fine with me because if Gira wants to turn them into a jam band, I gotta have something to hold me over until he breaks down and gets back with Jarboe...and not just for fleeting background vocals. Eye of Nix is wildly dynamic. Knowing just when to ebb and flow and never bringing those crash landings in the places you expect them.  Their dynamic range extends into the emotional current of what they do as well. She is not afraid to shred her vocals chords a little with some screams on the more upbeat "Shroud". It is one of the first songs that plays by the more typical metal rules until going back into the more slow -core closing section. They drop down to minimal instrumentation and Von Spain chanting around the hush chords. There is more chaos the build to this one, not unlike some of Swans' freak out moments but it congeals into something with more metal in its command.

Though the final two songs are listed as bonus tracks they are going to be counted as being on the album for the sake of this review. Since this album was originally released in the Spring , and now being re-leased with these songs added. There is a more sultry swagger to "Blood In the Fire" that has that dark alleys of New Orleans feel to it. It goes into a more nightmarish and agonized chaos as the song grows more  haunted . "Rome Burned" goes back into the blast beats.  The guitar lag behind them and samples accents the places where they let it breathe. The beat takes on more of a proto-metal swing and there is a rock feel before they blast off again. I have no problem rounding this one up to a 10 as they touch upon every thing I like in music.