First off, let's take this review as my personal opinion of the black metal scene and whatever I write only reflect that.. You have the right to disagree that this album is one of best, if not the best, black metal album released in the recent years but it remains my review and I am, in no way, trying to impose whatever I feel on your judgment. I'm aiming towards a specific person though I suppose he doesn't even has a clue about what the fuck is black metal, but just to be on the safe side, I rather write a disclaimer before all my upcoming reviews and avoid useless critical posts.
Hopefully yall agree that the nordic BM scene is becoming, for the most, irritating and repetitive, with copycats all the way through, you can't expect any change for the better. Hence the reason why a lot of BM fans now turn to the Ukrainian / slavic BM scene as they do offer something fresh, not limited to satanism - church burnings and such. With time, I came to realise that the USBM scene was kicking in at a pace which the nordic one couldn't cope with and by the time they came to appreciate that, the former was one huge step ahead (Velvet Cacoon's Genevieve, Xasthur's Subliminal Genocide and Leviathan's Tenth Level of Suicide or Tentacles of Whorror - I'll let you choose). Massive Conspiracy Against All Life adds to this gap and I firmly believe we're not ready to take something as crushing as this album from Norway and the likes (Ordo Ad Chao by Mayhem evidences that statement).
The album is a beast, a sort of outsider noone saw coming. With clear productions unlike Xasthur (I mean one where you can pick up on the instrument on the first listen), superb musicianship unlike Striborg (no false notes, the drumming is INSANE, the keys are wonderful just as the sound effects), long but sticky brooding songs that keeps you coming back for a second listen unlike Mayhem (and on top of that they're epic) and more importantly (according to me this is the best part) tear-jerking vocals, including but not limited to, shrieks, snorts and raspy vocals that are being played with throughout the album (this is the "experimental" part some attribute to Leviathan).
The atmosphere is gloomy, just like an ambient BM act's production should and they're coupled with accoustic moments that adds a LOT to the song structure (though on the song structure side, I have a preference for Wolves In The Throne Room). All these put together gives you a long tale of depression and darkness and this is what I consider as one of the greatest black metal release of all time and even compared to Velvet Cacoon's Genevieve, the latter won't stand a chance.. -10/10-
Btw, Massive Conspiracy Against All Life is supposed to be Wrest's last album. I keep praying that this comment was in fact a mere marketing strategy just like Hypocrisy did as I'm pretty sure there would have been more classics coming from this side of the world..
