The Dutch black metal band Teitan got its start in 2008 as a collaboration of two Dutch teenagers, Devi and Damon. Inspired by chaos, and the antecedents of Marduk, Dark Funeral, and Mayhem, they put out a demo the next year, which Devi calls “crappy”, and then Teitan seemed to die a sudden death.
Devi Hisgen joined other bands, later started Cthuluminati, and got increasingly into aspects of psychedelic music, but it turned out that the love for black metal never vanished. And thus 10 years after the demise of Teitan it was reborn, this time as Devi‘s solo project. 2019 brought the debut album Weight of the Void, and two singles and an EP named Vákuum surfaced in 2021 and 2022. And now a second album is on the way.
The new album reinforces the impression of the other more recent releases that Teitan has become much more interested in experimentation than simply following in the footsteps of BM forebears. And we should note that Void Wanderer and Onism, the two labels that will release the new album In Oculus Abyss, apply the genre label “Psychotic Black Metal”. Perhaps you’ll understand why when you listen to “Insectoid“, the song we’re premiering today.
The new album presents nine pieces about existentialist philosophy translated to experimental black metal. Hints about those philosophical themes have been surfacing through Teitan‘s social media, with a more thorough explanation promised to happen soon.
As manifested through “Insectoid“, Teitan‘s new music is a black metal genre-splicer. It freely integrates other stylistic ingredients from outside black metal, while preserving the main genre’s tools of hostile savagery. The end result is music that does indeed verge on psychotic, but seems equally dedicated to rumbling the cranium, shaking the spine, and spawning strange (and strangely inviting) visions birthed from a hidden world.
Bombastic chords and booming drums provide a momentous opening to “Insectoid“, but even then keyboard notes eerily dance, and continue dancing as the music begins to batter and abrasively excavate the listener’s skull. Strangled snarls and fanatical screams add to the song’s vicious ferocity, and the frenzied and writhing sizzle of guitars does raise visions of insectile assaults.
The mad tumult grows and grows, becoming more fiery, with the percussion detonating like megaton bombs (in addition to firing bullets at a high rate of speed). But big bass tones provide a hard-punching groove and waves of searing synths create a mood of desperation. Still, the keyboards dance again like sprightly spirits, joined by heavy-as-hell percussive demolition, crazed vocals, and gigantic body-moving electro-beats.
Void Wanderer and Onism will release In Oculus Abyss on May 26th, in a 6-panel digipack CD format with a booklet, as well as digitally. It’s adorned with cover art by Manuel Tinnemans, and comes recommended for fans of Dodheimsgard, Deathspell Omega, Hail Spirit Noir, Mayhem, and Enslaved. For more info in the coming days, check out the links below.
VOID WANDERER:
Webshop: https://voidwanderer.com/
Bandcamp: https://voidwandererproductions.bandcamp.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voidwandererprod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voidwandererproductions/
ONISM:
Website: https://onism.productions/
Social media: https://linktr.ee/OnismProductions
TEITAN:
https://www.facebook.com/theblackteitan
