Released in 2024, “Enchantment” by one man black metaller S.R aka. Raat is a knockout new LP in an already comprehensive discography that sees Raat double down on everything that made his previous release (Last years EP ‘Sacred Light) so impressive.
I’ve been following this project for the past year after catching it on Black Metal Promotion and was initially intrigued by his earlier releases but with Enchantment, Raat has made huge waves in figuring out what he’s doing and in that he’s released one of the more solid black metal albums for the year, showcasing a mix of lush post rock sounds with pensive clean sections against some of the most pummeling dense atmospheric black sounds you could hope to hear.
Tonally speaking the release has a sound I would describe as majestic and evil but without the vampire hedonism or luciferian vibe, it honestly matches the Adolf Hirémy-Hirschl artwork really well in terms of being this grimacing depiction of a religious event, both ecstatic and terrifying at the same time (also shout out to the absolutely beautiful artwork used for this release, well picked by Raat).
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The black metal aspect of this release really is a lot of fun to listen to, it has a ferocious speed with punishing double kicks, razor sharp guitars and Xasthur style machine-like cymbals, but its equally dense and lush even in those sections. Its honestly a pretty unique sounding record in atmospheric black metal territory because it has the ability to be chaotic in a fairly specific way. I think a lot of that is owed to rapid drum changes and the usage of choir like synths and guitars. A great example of this is the track ‘Voids Embrace’ which really puts the madness of this record on display.
Interspersed alongside the album is all the beautiful Hotel Neon style post-rock sections full of shimmering guitar work. The attention to detail Raat put on this album with regards to the ambient side is really impressive. Raat clearly has an understanding of what sound he wants and he knows how to do it well.
The use of electronics is another thing i have to highlight during these sections. There are synthesisers thrown in the mix and one electronic drum track, both are things that can be really tasteless in black metal and it’s uncommon to see these elements used without sounding like “lo fi study beats” being hamfistedly inserted into post black metal sections. Raat does a good job here of being nuanced with it.
The one thing that dawned on me pretty early on with Raat is in my opinion, this is lo fi black metal for 2024, not people spending a thousand dollars on a Tascam 4 track tape machine so they can sound like their favourite early 2000s DSBM project. This is a modern release that’s rich in atmosphere, complex musicality and large scale ideas.
It’s honestly amazing that in this day and age the only real limitation to black metal projects is their own creativity and ambition, which on his new release Raat displays in huge supply.
Check out this album at the link below.
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