Balmog – Laio

As they present themselves, Balmog is ‘black/death metal from the entrails of Soutomaior. I will addd to this that Balmog is undoubtedly an interesting band, and also a very experienced one with a career pushing on two decades. This Spanish/Galician trio is comprised of; Morg (bass), Virus (drums) and Balc (voices, guitars & keyboards). After the recording of their latest offering, Dorl Mathos (guitars & voice) joined the band.

The band plays black metal with aspects of both post- and death metal thrown into the mix. They started their career back in 2003 and released their first demo in 2006, so we are talking of a bunch of experienced guys who are confident demonstrating self-assurance about what they are doing.

The album’s title for their fifth album Laio comes from the Galician word ‘laiar’, which can be loosely translated as ‘lament’ – which actually matches the cover quite nicely. Furthermore it perfectly defines the intention behind the album; ‘…about how we can be simple pieces of molded mud or how we can shine like the explosion of a dying star, about how we can escape the ways of divinity, ways that can be dark and manipulative. Laio is a cry for independence and rebellion against the divine’.

Thematically, the album continues with the band’s exploration of the esoteric nature of the philosophy of religion and the endless conflict of faith and reason. Musically, we are faced with a piece of art that crates a great balance between some traditional rock tunes ala Pink Floyd and some cold second-wave black metal Bathory, Mayhem and Fields of the Nephilim vibes. Tracks like the opening “Falling”, “Like God Who Knows” or “The Silence of the Trumpets” are just three good examples of depictions of a solid and very good handling of the instruments with growling deep and desperate vocals, sharp guitar riffs, charming keyboards and a good bass which provides a crucial low-end foundation, enhancing the music’s aggression and weight by locking in with the powerful drums to create a dense wall of sound.

Concerning the sound, Javier Félez is the one who signs the production (recordings and mixing), while Jaime Gómez Arellano did the mastering. It resulted in a very good production that is defined not by high fidelity, but also by a fittingly raw and atmospheric sound. Meanwhile, the sound on Laio still possesses a raw, unpolished feel that enhances the genre’s primal, hypnotic, and often desolate atmosphere.

Filled with energy and personality Laio is a very good offering of this veteran that has more than twenty-two years of experience. It’s based on a balance between maturity and impetuousness, and such recommended for worshippers of a the so called second wave of classic black metal and acts as Bathory, Fields of the Nephilim, Gaerea, Mayhem, Satyricon, Marthyrium, Mütiilation etc.

Laio was released on May 23rd on War Anthem Records in all available formats, and discover more on this particular fifth effort from Balmog at their bandcamp.