Review: Druon Antigon – Het Donkere Volmaakte Al

Review by Ralka Skjerseth

Druon Antigon – Het Donkere Volmaakte Al

Record Label: Consouling Sounds

Year: 2024

Rating: 8/10

The Electronic/Ambient Black Metal One-man act initiated by Lennart Jannsen, the ever-dynamic Druon Antigon, has just released a new full-length entitled Het Donkere Volmaakte Al (“The Dark Perfected All”) via Consouling Sounds – publicized by The Metallist PR. While prominently circulating Electronic-Ambient and Black Metal undertones, Druon Antigon also managed to incorporate several other sonic elements into the soundscapes of Het Donkere Volmaakte Al, such as Doom Metal and harsh noise– making it a celestial alchemy; a versatile convergence between contrasting ends. This album features electronic glitches, ambient sections, and Black Metal harshness, and Druon Antigon’s attempt to explore elements of dubstep and Trip-Hop.

As a release that appears strong on existential nuances, Het Donkere Volmaakte Al addresses lyrical themes that reach vast expanses; that which lies beyond our borders– a majestic depiction of how the trajectories of mankind are questioned. On the Black Metal side, this album might be the right fit for fans of Emperor, Ulver, Burzum, and Deathspell Omega, while when it comes to the Ambient-Electronic side, it might be the right fit for Igorrr and Darkspace enthusiasts. Het Donkere Volmaakte Al presents a boundary-transcending deconstruction of genres, with Druon Antigon’s ever-genuine craftsmanship.

The Black Metal elements on this album appear to present intricate scapes of sounds, accompanied by inclement riffs, solid bass lines, intense, transgressive vocals, and restless drum beats. On the other side, the Electronic and Ambient elements are all-around atmospheric and otherworldly, taking the listeners on a magical, cosmically inclined journey. Consisting of six tracks, it is opened by “De Doler” with its haunting instrumentals, followed by “Midas” with its profound existentialist nuances; a homage to the vast cosmos. The third track is “Offer” with its fast-paced belligerent passages, and then we have “All Paths Lead Inward”, which features more Electronic glitches. It is then closed by the contrasting last two tracks, the rather Black Metal-inclined “Collapsing Black” and the ambient section-laden closing track “Geen Begin Noch Einde, Enkel Verandering”.

Concept-wise, this is the kind of release that is desolate and contemplation-inducing, the one that would potentially make its listeners contemplate the facticity of being and becoming. While it has a strong association with rawness and infinite void, it is also meticulously crafted; avant-garde chaos in its purest form.