THY LIGHT – Thy Light
- Posted on 18-12-2021
Given that this EP by the Glasgow-based black metal act Thy Light is not exactly brand-new anymore (it was released roughly five months ago) but ended up in my mailbox last week, we shall deal with this atmospheric and melancholy gem in just a few short sentences.
Its aura is one of deep-seated longing and existential despair, and there is a good flow to these two lengthy compositions not to mention plenty of light and shade in the sense that things move from the mellow and even serene and further on to aggressive and angst-filled outbursts rather seamlessly. For some inexplicable reason, a few of the melodies, most of which are highly evocative, remind me of Saturnus’ "Martyre" album due to their inherently bleak and forlorn vibe, which is a compliment. While the black metal rasps are slightly stereotypical and not what one would deem outstanding, the spoken words are quite good and add a cold touch to the proceedings, and the use of piano and keyboards is tasteful rather than intrusive.
I often find the term depressive black metal rather lame simply because most releases that are categorized as such suck ass, but "Thy Light" is most definitely an exception and a highly effective, well-crafted, and heartfelt opus that suits this time of year nicely. A fine piece of mournful underground music with both power and subtlety to it.