Feral Light – Psychic Contortions Review

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a northern clime in possession of snowy forests, must be in want of black metal. However little known the feelings or views of such a biome may be on its first entering a geography, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding metal heads, that it is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their corpse-painted hordes. How else do you explain the prevalence of so much quality blackened art in this, our most snowy forested of all states, Minnesota¹? There are, of course, other styles of metal practiced here, but few Minnesota bands outside of black metal have enjoyed the critical acclaim that acts like False or Obsequiae or Minnesota-by-way-of-Kentucky transplant Panopticon have. Those who have been watching the local scene closely will tell you that Feral Light have turned some heads over the last few years around Minneapolis, not to mention abroad. Enough so, apparently, that their fourth full-length has secured the attentions of Mr. Bingley heavyweight Italian avant-black label I, Voidhanger. So, is Psychic Contortions the belle of the ball, or will its dance card want for partners? 

While black metal is the foundation on which Feral Light build their sound, other styles surface as well. The band refer to themselves as blackened crust, and there is indeed a pleasantly scuzzy sound to the guitars and overall production. Songs like “Attainment” break into stretches of cantering black-and-roll, but the most prominent secondary style on Psychic Contortions is post-metal. This post- leaning is immediately clear in the opening and closing minutes of first song “Enveloped and Transformed,” with its melodic, measured, nearly doom riffs that bookend the song’s blackened crust core. Each song at least flirts with post-metal structures before “Communion and Reckoning” finally tips the balance more firmly in that direction just before the instrumental album closer. Don’t let this discourage you if you’re all about the blast beats and tremolos though, because there are plenty of fiery outbursts in the trifecta of scorchers “Ills of Closure,” “Attainment” and “Wells of Blackness.”

There are lots of details to appreciate throughout Psychic Contortions, and chief among them is the ease with which guitarist/vocalist Andy Schoengrund transitions from the furiously melodic tremolo riffs to simpler, propulsive black-and-roll and post-metal sections. The full gamut of styles is on display in second track “Ills of Closure,” which explodes from the gate with a killer second-wave blackened blast which eventually gives way to a wiry, formalist (and perhaps too repetitive) guitar line which morphs again into raucous crust punk swagger. A strong sense of melody lies just below the scuzzy surface throughout the album. At times, as on “Self Disavow” or the back half of “Communion and Reckoning,” this melodicism takes lead, but Schoengrund is a deft riffmaster, and close listening yields rewards at almost any given moment.

Psychic Contortions has a great sound and solid riffs, but its one drawback might actually be its consistency. Each song cycles through roughly the same set of ideas in slightly different configurations. It took me a good half dozen listens before I could differentiate most of the songs. When they’re this interchangeable, the experience of an album smooths out, and without songwriting peaks and valleys, it can end up quite good, but still a bit unmemorable. No song rises above the others as a must-listen, and these are the kinds of things that separate very good albums from great ones. To their credit, Feral Light keep the runtime to a crisp 36 minutes, so it’s no chore to just listen to the whole album. 

All in all, I find this a very handsome album indeed and that we pass our time together most agreeably. My good opinion once lost, is lost forever, yet Feral Light have secured my regard with their previous work, and now also with Psychic Contortions.² If you like your black metal a little crusty and a little post-y, give this one a spin or three.

Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: I, Voidhanger
Websites: ferallight.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/ferallight
Releases Worldwide: April 22nd, 2022