Emerald Weapon is at experimental black metal project from
the Pacific Northwest USA. The band
debuted earlier this year in June with a self-titled EP which showed a band
attempting to experiment not only with ambient/drone pieces, but also (and
separately) very melodic punk-infused post-black metal. On the band’s second EP, Part II: Earth
Encrypted, the band continue to develop this style with another four
(mostly short) tracks.
Featuring a short doomy introductory piece and three
following "main" tracks, the band’s sound on the album can
essentially boil down to either atmospheric, melodic drone or melodic
d-beat/blast beat focused black metal not dissimilar to Black Monolith. The first full track, “Crpyto-Imprisonment”
is comprised of the latter style, beginning with d-beats and relatively basic
punk-inspired chord progressions before smoothly transitioning into blast beats
halfway through.
Although the band’s previous EP featured four tracks and was
equal parts drone and metal, this second EP only includes one experiment with
drone music on the third track, “Cement Rivers.” Here, guitar feedback bombards the listener
with rhythmic booms whilst a vaguely melodic lead whines underneath. This crawling piece serves as a nicely placed
break between the record's fairly similar two main tracks, allowing space for
each to shine in the context of the EPs relatively short runtime. The final track, “Earth Exposure”, picks up
where “Crpyto-Imprisonment” left off with more blasts, d-beats, and melodic
leads layered overtop black metal riffing.
It should be noted that while the band’s “post-black metal +
d-beats” formula might remind oneself of other bands attempting the same basic
combination of influences (Black Monolith specifically) the band is able
to compile and execute this assortment of styles in a way that does make itself
seem unique and--at the end of the day--still fairly interesting. These tracks are neither too long nor too
short but rather seem to hit that “sweet spot” of medium length, allowing both
punk and black metal sections to run their courses before becoming tiring or
repetitive, while simultaneously giving the listener enough time to completely
digest the numerous layered melodies.
For only the project’s second release, Part II: Earth
Encrypted shows a definitely talented young band tightening its sound
and--more importantly--figuring out not only where it wants to go, but how it
plans to get there.
