Liturgy - Aesthethica (2011)
âGood art should be polarizingâ
Liturgy is an odd band. It comes as no surprise really. They make black metal that would make most hardcore "trve kvlt" black metal fans write salty reviews online on how far black metal has fallen. Calling Liturgy pretentious and unmemorable. Me personally; I do not feel this album is "pretentious" in a bad way. I feel like Hunter Hunt-Hendrix was not trying to impress people at all. Rather; I feel like his intentions were somewhat to piss off the black metal community. I can report 8 years later that he succeeded, and then some.
Of course I gloss over the actual music present, which is somehow some of the most experimental music that black metal has ever seen. It seems to incorporate a lot of things that I feel fit very well with black metal. Chanting vocals, polyrhythmic riffs, and epic soundscapes. All is present in this album and fits with black metal very well. I am honestly very surprised more black metal bands do not make music like this. Sonically, this combination is very immersive and draws the listener in for the long haul. Some sections go on too long for their own good, but each movement feels unique and inspiring. The vocals are very fitting too, and I really enjoy the use of clean vocals every now and then to freshen things up. There is a surprising amount of variety in this album despite all the repetition. It just takes an open mind to fully grasp I think. That and quite a few listens!
Track by track there are a few standouts to me. First would have to be "Returner". It really shows Liturgy's knack for great songwriting in my opinion. Relying on repetitive, yet effective movements for the entire song. The next track: "Generation" showcases their great ability of building on a single riff. The more I listen to it, the more I start to notice something different going on; which makes it fun to re-listen. There is also songs with pretty epic soundscapes like "True Will" and "Tragic Laurel", that make use of many layers of instrumentals. The only other track that really stands out in such a great way to me is "Harmonia". This is possibly one of my favorite closers to an album ever. Possibly the best song on the album aswell. It feels like the entire album condensed into it and "Glass Earth". The polyphonic chants that build upon themselves, leading into a track that relishes in its repetitive glory. There isn't really any weak tracks on this album either. The only track I really feel doesn't stand out much is Helix Skull, but its length just isn't long enough for me to consider it a major annoyance, therefore it is fine. It more so is just build up for Glory Bronze anyhow. I find it interesting how many tracks do stand out in this album and really enjoy how most of their creative elements took a few songs to fully showcase. It is just another thing going for Liturgy's subjective excellence.
Aesthethica is extremely polarizing. I feel it is this way due to the dichotomy of peoples opinions about this album. You either consider this a milestone in black metal or the worst thing on planet earth. A lot of it has to do with the fact that this album is a lot more progressive than traditional. So of course with the current state of the world, most people will feel one way about it or the other. I find it kind of odd that people will near-objectively claim that this album is basic and unmemorable when it is quite the opposite. Some people might still dislike this album regardless of the hatred for progressivism though and I fully understand. I find it very fascinating how opinions on this album are so divisive. Of course me personally; I consider this a huge achievement in black metal. A genre that I have had a difficult time fully appreciating due to it's horrid community and values. I see this album as a big "fuck you" to those people. The fact that these fans of black metal are so upset over this album makes me happy. Knowing that, it kind of creates a whole new level of enjoyment for this album.
I have gone through a bit of a metamorphosis in appreciating Liturgy. I went from disregarding them as musicians, to enjoying how they piss off people I cannot stand, to truly enjoying their glory in the years I have known of them. Many of the standout tracks, Harmonia especially, I credit for this change of perspective. As a band; they are more than worthy of their "transcendental black metal" moniker. Asthethica transcends black metal in a way that should've been done long ago. Sadly, I highly doubt that a band not named Liturgy will make another album like this. This sadness is short lived however. Upon the realization that it makes this album stand out a lot more. Aesthethica will forever stand alone on its own pedistal, and I am very happy for it. This band taught me that pretentious doesn't inherintly yield a lack of quality. Good art often teaches you a valuable lesson. To this I must say: thank you Liturgy.
(P.S. Glass Earth leading into Harmonia has to be one of the best things that black metal has given us. I will stand on this grave until I die.)
Rating: 8/10












