Ens Imperfectissimum & VRNA -
Offerte Votive per Morti Senza Nome
A second split between two Italian occult-driven acts. We reviewed the former split last year, which is still worth it for curious ears. The album comes as a CD packed in a wallet-sized format with a 4-panel insert. A huge album running over 70 minutes.
The album title can be translated to Votive Offerings for the Nameless Dead. And as far as I can remember, the former split was also working within the same kind of theme. The idea for this split comes from a tradition from the city of Naples. Where religious devotion was offered for the nameless graves, for those (dead) who were denied mourning and proper funeral rites. The tracks are different from the CD, and on the Bandcamp site, I review the tracks from the CD.
The first track is by VRNA, and it´s called "Adoption Ritual". A folksy harmonic drone, a single drum serving a ceremonious purpose, a violin-like string instrument, bells... and some BEAUTIFUL and distant orchestral vocals, similar to the voice of Joe Papa of Controlled Bleeding! Beautifully made! Ritual music at its best, with some slight gothic undertones in the mood.
The second track is by Ens Imperfectissimum, called Invocazione dei Defunti Anonimi. A perfect blend of dark ambience and classic death industrial, something in between esoteric ritual-stuff like Ain Soph and the more ambient-oriented BDN. Excellent deep and mystical female vocal here (believe me!).
The third track is called Hypogeum, and it´s with VRNA. Starts with a huge gong starting the ceremony, getting back to Coil´s How To Destroy Angels and Endvra. Deep whispering voices quietly chanting. Extra layers of reverbed whispering and looping give the sound an unearthly quality. A subtle and singing chant enters the mix, giving the track just a slight melodic and ceremoniously aproach.
The fourth track is Mortui Expositus, meaning The Exposed Dead, by Ens Imperfectissimum. A deep drum, stretched-out orchestral sounds, evocative vocals, and the sound of wood hitting wood... or is it bones? It does have that bony kind of feel to it, though. Very shamanic touch here, getting close to the spirits for sure. Female ritualistic spoken here as well (later on), and the sound of the moaning dead is really present here! Imagine a wall of skulls with the wind blowing through them.
The fifth track, called Three Headless Angels at my Bedside by VRNA, returns to a more folksy feeling. Reminding me of a soundtrack I heard on the horror film called Dagon, maybe the same kind of bagpibe/windy instrument? Evocative flute, bells, harmonium (I think). Very similar in style to another Italian act called Alio Die (Recommended). Excellent string instruments are added, which give it a kind of spaghetti-western feel. The esoteric is incredibly exquisite here!
The sixth track is called Offerte Votive per Morti Senza Nome (Voting Offerings for the Nameless Dead) by Ens Perfectissimum. Shimmering sound of steel chains (or crystals), endless mourning string sound/drone from a bottomless pit, shattering and thunderous mood in a huge cathedral indeed. With atmospheric, evocative, and beautiful female-vocals parts as well.
Ending the ritual/album is with VRNA with the track called Dialogue With the Shadows. Again, a slightly folksy feeling with a kind of ancient, almost Middle Eastern feel to it. The sound of the treated violin is truly a nice treat here. Something in there sounds just like a thighbone trumpet, combined with excellent chanting male vocals.
Offerte Votice per Morti Senza Nome is a worthy masterpiece which takes the listener deep into a world that lies between the living and the dead, actually with a lot more beautiful esoteric approach than the grim and demonic sound of death-industrial. Just sit back on your favorite chair, pour yourself a whiskey, and go through the album from the start to the end. Very satisfying and highly enjoyable 70 minutes. When ritual music is at its absolute peak!
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