Label: Independent
Date: September 5th, 2023
So, also from reasons I mentioned in my last review, we stay in the chef port and economic centre of Morocco. In the city we can find bands playing several sub-genres of metal as well. Created three years ago Tagrest presents us with music we’re able to call black metal. Anyways, it seems guys from the very beginning started to treat their band seriously and that’s why after quite a short time their first stuff ever saw the light of the day (or darkness of night – it depends on the interpretation and, also timezone as well). It was an independently released digital EP “Epitome I: Forlorn Fatherland” containing four compositions. Then came, the same way, two singles, just reviewed full-length and finally live album. As you see, last year was a diligent period for them. Maybe that’s the reason why 2024 hasn’t resulted in anything new yet.
I know “To Bask…” isn’t a very fresh album, but since this is available online and probably no one of us even heard a word about this band before, then I think it doesn’t matter. What does matter is the music we have to do with it here. And I have to tell you, I know I’m bored with repeating that all the time in almost every entire review, it’s definitely worth not only attention, but also spending some money, and even another, stuffs of Moroccans. In my opinion four Euros is a very good price given the quality of creativity Well, actually that’s a pittance! Of course you can say that’s anything new, original and in general there’s many bands playing like that. Well, as I said before (not in this review, but…), I’m not a huge fan of black metal, I just prefer other kinds of our beloved music, and don’t play expert in this field. So you’re probably even right. But on the other hand, is it too important? In my opinion it’s absolutely not! By the way, these eight songs are dedicated to people who like, let’s call it, developed and even a little epic Black Art with elements of other genres of metal. But word epic here means something a little else then in case of for example power metal, of course. The same is about the term developed, actually. I mean, riffs or drumming probably aren’t something that makes you fall on your knees. But that’s still something you’ll surely appreciate and like very much, if you’re not orthodox fan of raw and primitive playing. At the same time, especially guitar work is quite strongly based in the second (which in opinion of some fans is the first one, but at the same time they can’t tell why it is called “second”) and even first wave of black metal. You’re able to recognize here also some thrash or mentioned before power influences as well – both in aggressive, but also even a little bit monumental riffs, drumming and vocal. The fact is they’re very subtle ones and hearable only for, let’s call it, experienced ears. Anyways, during the listening of “To Bask…” I hadn’t even one second of doubt I listened to pure black.
Generally, Moroccans play in the middle tempo with quite often speed ups. There’s also some classic guitar here and there. It, even if doesn’t happen too often, makes music more complex, as well as clean vocalization, and somehow you feel what, except stricte music stuff, inspires guys. I have also to praise guys for both cover-art and cut of letters oin the title of album, and even logo. They perfectly reflect the atmosphere of music and what bands inspire them the most. To sum up, I’m glad I discovered one more very interesting stuff and even I even risk the conclusion that this is a much better one then a lot of so called cult albums of the genre! But since as I said before I’m a “pure, true, evil” fan of black metal, then you don’t need to take my words super seriously. But you need and even must check out the debut album of our Moroccan friends! Well, I go even further and do the same with both EP and live albums.
