Blut Aus Nord - 777 Cosmosophy (2012)

France has definitely been ground zero for some of the best and most diverse black metal in the past ten years. I don’t know if its something in the air, the water or in their croissants, but the Frenchies have been at the forefront of originality and experimentation, and Blut Aus Nord has been at the helm for the past decade. With 2003’s “The Work Which Transforms God” and the 2006’s “MoRt”, BAN have shown that conventional definitions and limitations as to what is and isn’t black metal doesn’t matter one fucking bit to them.

The final installment of the 777 trilogy "Cosmosphy" definitely lives up to expectations. Combining  black metal, industrial, post-rock, clean vocals, etc. this album has a lot going on. But with the listener being accosted from every conceivable angle, Cosmosophy preserves the qualities  most compelling in black metal – yearning, desperation, apprehension, and solitude. Whether it’s expressed as a martial march or a depraved rumble of bass and eerie noise, nearly every track carries its own species of pure black emotion.

This is music which truly transcends labels; it does not work within any mold and ignores the slightest whispers of pretension, blending seemingly impossible stylings in ways that still sound good. While each song is a treat to listen to on its own, Cosmosphy deserves to be experienced in its entirety.