Time Held Me Grey and Dying is tried and true atmoblack, most reminiscent of more well-known acts like Shylmagognar, Mare Cognitum, Ethereal Shroud, and Grima, minus the accordion. To that end, soaring tremolos dive into and re-emerge out of expansive compositions which conjure only the loneliest and most heavily misted environs. In these befogged fields of sorrow and woe, bloodcurdling shrieks cut and slash through the dense atmosphere, icy choirs and ethereal chants call eerily from the shadows, and lush strings overwhelm the senses. These eight songs, densely packed with emotion and cosmic in scale, transport the listener into dark recesses of depression and sadness with a deft hand, but aggressive riffs and pummeling percussion do occasionally surface to bring some measure of excitement to the affair as well. Whether Ofnus strikes the right balance between immersive and destructive will entirely depend on the individual.
For this individual, Ofnus do strike the right balance in their best material. My favorite track and an easy album highlight, “Grains of Sand” brilliantly illustrates this harmony between beauty and beast. The lead melody which pervades the entire six-and-a-half minute runtime builds and builds, generating momentum gradually while bringing me further into this nebulous climate. What lies in wait is unclear until the very last thirty-second passage, at which point a simply immense riff pummels my skull in the most immaculate way. Ofnus use this slow burn method sparingly, though, more commonly opting to waft me gently deeper into despair with long-form waltzes through this ever-darkening abyss. In the more epic examples, like the nearly ten-minute “Burned by the Soul of the Moon” and closer “A Thousand Lifetimes,” this strategy is quite effective, leaving me hollowed and harrowed by transcendent leads and oppressive wails. In these stronger cuts, hard-hitting passages not entirely unlike the blunderbuss finale of “Grains of Sand” appear in regular intervals throughout their respective runtimes, which allows Ofnus to stretch out over greater spans without creating excessive drag or depleting my interest.
Unfortunately, the remaining tracks fall away from memory as soon as they pass. While the performances are remarkably tight and professional for a band still in its nascence, the songwriting offers very little to hold on to. The baritone vocals peppering decent songs like “The Endless Grey” and “Exulansis” do help bring additional flavor, but they are utilized too infrequently and too similarly to make a lasting mark. Epic orchestral hits—like those in “Exulansis”—attempt to evoke majesty in a record meant to exude drama and depth, but with few exceptions, they overburden most songs with explosive bursts of noise that only serve to obscure what would otherwise be a smooth and sensual transition. Monotonous vocal delivery and consistent pacing over time further flatten an album which so deeply depends on textural variety to succeed, while an uncharacteristically (for atmospheric black metal) cramped mix exacerbates this loss of dynamics and nuance.
Despite my criticisms, it’s difficult to feel disappointed with Time Held Me Grey and Dying. Atmospheric black metal is a deceivingly difficult genre in which to create universally acclaimed material, and Ofnus are just starting their foray into that scene. Taking that into consideration, their debut is a respectable outing with good-to-great moments. Unfortunately, most of the content surrounding those best moments isn’t strong enough to earn this record a full recommendation. However, I’ll keep my eye on these Welsh chaps, in the hope that future releases fare better.
Rating: Mixed
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: v0 mp3
Label: Naturmacht Productions
Websites: ofnusnp.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/Ofnus
Releases Worldwide: June 30th, 2023
