With a considerable output over the past four-and-a-bit years, it might not be surprising that Portuguese Efermus was featured on these pages before. In fact, the last year, Cédric Rodrigues, the sole mind behind the band, has been rather active with Efermus: a full-length, a demo and now a new EP, all released on Altare Productions, the revered home for many a Portuguese Raw Black Metal outfit.
The label claims this is one of the project’s most straight-forward offerings so far and much in line with Mons Veneris and French Les Légions Noires acts such as Brenoritvrezorkre and Belketre. Usually I tend to be a bit critical, or at least sceptical, when it comes to this sort of label-talk, but frankly, this is pretty much spot on.
The band’s previous output was never much of an easy listening, yet with ‘Reino De Todos Os Monstros’ (which roughly translates to ‘Realm Of All Monsters’) Efermus takes its impenetrable harshness to whole new levels. With this the comparison with compatriots Mons Veneris is hard to deny. The French connection is mainly found in the slightly more accentuated dissonant riffing and the way the vocals, drums and music having the tendency of forming one monotonous static. A static that really only unfolds when listened to attentively, admittedly, a trained ear might come in handy here. Regardless, the music definitely benefits from a few spins, then reveals that below the noise and dissonance there’s a whole world of eerie melodies, intricate riffing and even some up-beat punk rhythms to enjoy.
While this might be the toughest piece of music Efermus has delivered so far, it isn’t miles away from the previously released Efermus material. In case you have come to appreciate this project, or more generally Raw Black Metal (of Portuguese making), this is an EP that will disappoint.
