
Cavernous, psychedelic metal that feels like a ritual in a flooded cathedral. A dense, hypnotic blend of black metal speed and funeral doom weight.
Listening to The Ruins of Beverast is like witnessing a religious ceremony in a subterranean vault that hasn't been opened for centuries. The music is incredibly dense, layering thick, distorted guitars with tribal percussion and eerie, monastic chants. It doesn't just play; it surrounds you with a murky, humid atmosphere that feels physically heavy. It is black metal that has slowed down to a crawl, absorbing the crushing weight of funeral doom while maintaining a restless, psychedelic edge.
What truly sets this project apart is the sheer scale of the compositions. Alexander von Meilenwald constructs songs that feel like ancient architecture, full of echoing corridors and hidden chambers. You'll hear sudden shifts from blast-beat aggression to hypnotic, repetitive grooves that sound like a shamanic trance. The use of non-traditional samples, from Gregorian chants to unsettling field recordings, creates a cinematic depth that most metal bands never reach.
For those ready to dive in, Exuvia is the definitive starting point. It perfectly captures the project's transition into more tribal and psychedelic territories while remaining terrifyingly heavy. If you prefer something more raw and sprawling, Rain Upon the Impure offers a lo-fi, wall-of-sound experience that is legendary for its uncompromising, suffocating production.
The Ruins of Beverast is a German blackened doom metal project formed by Alexander von Meilenwald in 2003. Six albums have been released under the moniker through Ván Records. Since 2013, von Meilenwald has also performed live with an expanded line-up under the band's name. Apart from occasional appearances by session musicians, he continues to perform all instruments and vocals on the band's studio material. Der Spiegel called the third album Foulest Semen of a Sheltered Elite a "highly complex" album and rated it 8 out of 10. The album Exuvia was released in 2017. It was well received by the metal press. Metal Hammer Germany rated it 6 out of 7, Metal.de 9 out of 10.
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